Officials and others during the field spot verification.
Morung Express News
Tuensang | October 18
The Department of Land Resources (LRD), Tuensang, in collaboration with the Coffee Board of India (CBI), recently embarked on a comprehensive field tour across villages in the Tuensang and Shamator districts. From October 15 to 18, the team sought to evaluate the region’s coffee plantations while educating farmers about the intricacies of cultivating the high-value crop. Led by Er Moamongba Longchari, District Project Officer of LRD Tuensang, and Jayanta Ghosh, Deputy Director (Extension) of the CBI, the joint effort is part of an ongoing mission to expand coffee farming in Nagaland. During the tour, the team not only inspected coffee plants for verification but also conducted hands-on training, covering everything from sowing techniques to the harvesting of cherries.
Nagaland has seen a renewed focus on coffee cultivation in recent years. Despite being initially introduced in 1981, large-scale efforts to grow coffee were paused due to challenges such as market access and management issues. However, since 2014, LRD have revived this effort, recognizing coffee’s potential to transform local economies and environmental practices. Coffee is now being promoted as an alternative to the traditional slash-and-burn method (jhum cultivation), which has long been a challenge for sustainable farming in the region.
The recent tour was part of a broader initiative to ensure quality and consistency in coffee production. Longchari emphasized the importance of crop registration and market linkages, urging farmers to register for future support. Training programs during the tour focused on empowering local farmers with essential knowledge to meet global coffee standards. The Department of Land Resources, Tuensang has been instrumental in providing both technical assistance and training to farmers in Nagaland, aligning with efforts to make coffee cultivation a sustainable, long-term solution for rural employment and environmental preservation.
