Morung Express News
Kohima | March 30
A coffee expert from South Africa thinks Nagaland has the potential to give coffee industries across the world a run for their money.
“In the global market it (Nagaland) is a really small player but Nagaland has the potential for world contender in coffee industry,” said Pieter Vermuelen, a coffee expert from South Africa who is currently in Nagaland visiting coffee plantations in various districts and consulting the Department of Land Resource on coffee plantations.
Vermuelen was addressing a press conference held at the Land Resources Department office, Kohima on March 30. Vermuelen, who has been working in the coffee industry for more than 20 years owns two companies called The Himalaya Network, a non-profit company in Nepal involved in the coffee industry, and a corporate firm called the Noble Cause which aims to bring added value into communities, to profit, and also develop farming communities. In his recent visit across Nagaland, Vermuelen tasted a variety of coffee and inspected plantations. From these observations, he noted that Nagaland has the potential to produce some of the best coffee in the world.
Coffee plantation in Nagaland dates back to 1958 where coffee is first said to have been planted in Kohima village. The Himalayan region being one of the most suitable regions for coffee plantation makes Nagaland a potential region for coffee production.
In Nagaland there are two varieties of coffee namely Robusta coffee and Arabica coffee. And within these varieties, consists of numerous flavours differing from region to region. Vermuelen had excellent feedbacks to give on the coffee produced in Nagaland.
The coffee tested in Kigwema, according to Vermuelen, has a ‘cashew flowery flavor’ while a ‘citrus nutty taste’ coffee was tasted in Lita village which is very particular of the Himalayan region.
In his 20 years of being in the coffee industry, Vermuelen enthused that he has never tasted the flavor of coffee found in Wokha village, which he described was ‘almond strawberry creamy flavor.’ Tasting is very important in coffee industry, mentioned the coffee expert.
“Nagaland has the potential to develop a sustainable economy, export coffee and take it to the world. Almost a third of the world drinks coffee. This is one way of taking the Naga brand to the world. By taking Nagaland’s coffee to the world, people will come to know of Nagaland and coffee enthusiasts can come and evaluate the way coffee grows,” a clearly excited Vermuelen stated.
The biggest challenge, however, will be to teach Nagas the value of coffee, noted Vermuelen while adding that Nagaland already has the infrastructure and the railway transport which is an additional benefit in making the task easier for export.
In Nagaland, coffee can be exported through railways to Kolkata which can further be shipped to other countries. Vermuelen, sharing his connection with Nagaland, mentioned that his father was a missionary for the Nagas for more than 21 years.
Mathung Yanthan, Director, Land Resource Department, stated that in the 1980s coffee plantation was introduced however it failed miserably due to mismanagement, leading to coffee farmers to give up on the plantation. “Every part of Nagaland is suitable for coffee plantation. We are still in the rudimentary stage,” stated Yanthan while discussing the comprehensive year plan of coffee plantations in Nagaland.
A five years comprehensive plan for development of coffee in Nagaland has been prepared for a total area of 5000 Ha covering all districts. 10,000 households have been identified for this plan which will be implemented in convergence with the Coffee Board of India. With an aim to export coffee in the future, Yanthan also noted that the core objective is to produce organic coffee.
Vermuelen also mentioned that the current international market are more focused on purchasing organic coffee, coffee that supports sustainable development, and coffee that contributes to fighting climate change.
Another Land Resource Department official mentioned that coffee plantation can be done without disturbing the ecology and can improve the economy. Beneficiaries are identified on the basis of land availability and the interest of the farmers.
