Experts to study coffee cultivation in State

KOHIMA, OCTOBER 20 : There is good news for coffee farmers of Nagaland. Central Coffee Research Institute, Chikkmagalur, Karnataka has agreed to depute scientists and technical experts to study the climatic condition and feasibility of coffee plantation in the State, Secretary, Land Resources, Y Kikheto Sema informed Eastern Mirror over phone from Bangalore.

He said the CCRI has also assured all possible guidance and assistance to the State Land Resources Department for coffee plantation.

Sema said CCRI director Dr Raguramulu expressed his happiness over the Nagaland team’s visit to Karnataka to study coffee cultivation there and agreed to depute coffee experts and provide whatever coffee seeds are required by the State.
Citing similar climatic conditions of Karnataka and Nagaland, Sema was optimistic that the State would see a landmark growth in coffee plantation with technical experts providing their valuable expertise after examining the feasibility.

He is said to have apprised CCRI officials about the relatively peaceful atmosphere in the State when the latter expressed their apprehension about the situation in the past and also the frequent landslides due to which the establishment of Coffee Demonstration Farm at Kiruphema could not take off.

In a joint meeting held between the CCRI officials, scientists and State Land Resources Department officers at Central Coffee Research Institute, Sema while presenting a power point presentation on the status of coffee in Nagaland explained that coffee plantation has an edge over rubber and tea in the state since it could be intercropped with other crops such as banana, orange, citrus, pepper etc. Mixed cropping is not possible in case of rubber and tea, he stated.

He also informed the CCRI officials that the Land Resources Department was yet to receive funds even though it had been declared the nodal department for revival of coffee plantation in the State.

The State team was taken to a coffee farm and Chikkmagalur Coffee Laboratory by the CCRI officials and farmers. The team also visited Coffee Sub Research Centre, Coorg with CBI officials on Thursday.

Informing that 70% of coffee production in the country is from Karnataka, Sema expressed gratitude to Coffee Board of India Bangalore, CCRI Chikkmagalur and Coffee Sub Research Centre, Coorg for their support and cooperation.