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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 1 (EMN): The principal secretary of Home, Abhijit Sinha, on Friday called for more efforts to expand coffee plantation, saying that it is a boon to the state in terms of employment generation and saving the environment besides generating economy.
He was addressing the International Coffee Day and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence at the Conference Hall of Land Resources Department (LRD) in Kohima.
Informing that coffee is world’s second largest traded commodity after oil, Sinha urged the people and the Land Resources Department as well, to expand area coverage, increase production and promote.
He maintained that this “promising crop”, which has huge potential and opportunities, can mitigate unemployment problem and address economic disparity in the state. He also stressed on the need to make use of various platforms to promote Nagaland Coffee in the country as well as international market.
Director of LRD, T Renben Lotha said in his keynote address that the department is advocating ‘Drink what you grow’ slogan (Naga Coffee and Tisane Teas) to promote Nagaland Coffee.
He added that a coffee bar each has been set up in all the districts to make Nagaland a coffee destination and coffee tourism will also be introduced during the Hornbill Festival this year.
Renben Lotha said that the department’s motto ‘Waste to Wealth’ envisages its mission to evolve integrated strategies for management of natural resources aimed at achieving functional ecological economy on a sustainable basis.
He recalled how coffee plantation started in Nagaland in 1981 but was revived only in 2015 before started harvesting -- field to cup -- in 2016.
The official informed that out of the total geographical area (TGA) 16, 57, 900 Ha in the state, an area of 10, 40, 100 Ha (62.7%) are potential areas for coffee cultivation. He added that the department targets to bring 50, 000 Ha (4.8%) of land under coffee plantations by 2030, a significant increase from 8, 996.5 Ha (0.86%) in 2020.
He went on to say that the department is planning to provide post-harvest support to coffee farmers to enable them fetch better prices and help them compete at the international market.
The director informed that International Coffee Day (ICD) was launched in 2015 by the International Coffee Organisation to celebrate love for coffee and to pay respect to the world’s coffee farmers.
Emphasising on the importance and advantages of coffee plantation, the director said that the crop is eco-friendly (ecology) as it is shade-loving, mitigates jhumming, sequestrates carbon and promotes biodiversity.
He stated that besides its economic value, coffee being a labour-intensive crop, promotes sustainable employment opportunity for the unskilled rural population of the state. In India’s context, it is the country’s second largest traded commodity and a major foreign exchange earner.
The official also informed that coffee also has many health benefits like– protection against liver cirrhosis, lower risk of type-2 diabetes, lower risk of Alzheimer and Parkinson disease, and minimising risks of heart disease.
Uday Pandit, Junior Liaison Officer from Coffee Board of India, highlighted the huge potential of coffee in the world market and called for efforts to make Nagaland a coffee state.
He also acknowledged the coffee farmers in the state for enthusiastically taking up farming and asserted that the brew has multiple facets and many health benefits.
Chaired by the commissioner and secretary of LRD, Vikeyie Kenya, the International Coffee Day programme was attended by several officials like Commissioner and Secretary NLA, PJ Anthony; Commissioner and Secretary to Governor of Nagaland, T Mhabemo; Secretary YRS, Wezope Kenye; DC Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie; Joint Director of LRD, C Vanchamo Ngullie; and other senior government officials.