A resource person conducting an in-field demonstration on the process of harvesting coffee.
Morung Express News
Kiphire | November 21
The Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Kiphire today organised a pre-harvest training for coffee farmers under PMKSY-WDC 2.O at Tsilise farm, a progressive coffee farm, with 18 coffee farmers from 10 villages attending the training.
Welcome the gathering, Lipichem, DPO, DoLR, said in his keynote address that the department, being the nodal department for coffee, has been providing coffee to interested farmers for a few years now. He said that the department is organising the training because it is time for harvest now, and many do not know how to harvest quality coffee, thereby compromising the cost and causing loss to farmers.
He also said, Kiphire coffee is said to be one of the best coffee in terms of flavour, taste and aroma and asked the farmers to focus on quality and not quantity, in order to capture the market.
Stating that the department has in-house trained resources person for coffee, Lipichem advised the farmers to approach the department if there any problems are encountered. He also encouraged them to form WhatsApp groups and share learning experience so that each one learns from the other.
In the technical session, Mahnir, WDT, shared on how coffee price is determined as per harvest and emphasised that buyers are looking for quality and not quantity.
He also took the farmers to the field and demonstrated the process of harvesting. Drying method and cupping of coffee was also discussed in the demonstration.
Joseph who was also a resource person shared on management of coffee and also demonstrated on how quality coffee can be produced post-harvest.
A Tsilise coffee farmer also shared experiences and was of the view that coffee is a crop which would bring benefit in the long run. Asking fellow growers not to take up plantation for subsidies alone, he also suggested that a coffee growers association is formed so that farmers can exchange learning.
