Citing feasibility and viability of coffee plantation in the state, the Nagaland State Department of Land Resources has requested the Coffee Board of India (CBI), Bangalore to enhance the allocation of coffee seeds to the state.
This request was made by a team of department officials led by its Secretary, Y. Kikheto Sema IAS and five other officers during a meeting with officials of the CBI, Bangalore at the latter’s office on Monday.
Speaking at the meeting, Kikheto said that there was vast coffee plantation in the state during the 1980s, however, it became a failed crop owing to lack of awareness, marketing and management problem. He said the farmers began to cut down coffee plants in desperation and that around 40 hectares remained now.
Kikheto said that a research conducted out of that 40 hectares, it was found that Arabica species coffee grown in the state was one of the best.
It may be mentioned that the state government on September 2016 had made the Department of Land Resources as the nodal department for revival of coffee plantation.
He said that the CBI had allocated 300 kgs coffee seeds during 2015-2016 but ran short since the demand was high in the state. Kikheto requested the CBI to allocate at least 4000 kgs seeds to cover 4000 hectares and added that the payment would be prompt. Responding to this request, Director of Finance, CBI, Dr. Arati Devan Gupta assured the Department officials of looking into the matter for enhancing coffee seeds allocation.
Kikheto said that the department was targeting coffee plantation coverage of about 50, 000 hectares by 2030.
He also said that the department during 2015-16 had developed 230 hectares of coffee plantation and plans to cover 600 hectares this year.
Pointing out that coffee harvesting takes about four years after planting, Kikheto asked the CBI for possible assistance to coffee farmers during the initial years of plantation and also for maintenance of nurseries.
He also made a request for establishing Arabica Coffee Research Centre in Nagaland, since the state is planning for coffee plantation on a large scale and constant research is required.
Kiheto said that the day was significant for the department since a group of three different officers’ team were attending important meetings. One team led by Additional Director, Renbenthung Jami is attending the annual rubber conference organized by Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries at Guwahati where a new clone developed by Rubber Board of India exclusively for planting in NE was being released. Another team led by Director, Hoto Yepthomi was at Mokokchung for Springshed training programme.
The Secretary was accompanied by Deputy Director, C. Vanchamo Ngullie, Officer incharge Coffee and four District Project Officers.
This information was provided to The Morung Express over the phone by Secretary, Land Resources, Y. Kikheto Sema IAS.
source: http://www.morungexpress.com / The Morung Express / Home / by Morung Express News / Dimapur – October 17th, 2016(posted October 18th, 2016)
