Deputy Commissioner Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan IAS, launched the Coffee Bar- Native Brew in the office of District Project Officer, Land Resources Department,Dimapuron 3rd August 2021.

Speaking on the occasion as the special guest, Soundararajan lauded the department for the initiative, while pointing out there has been an increase in coffee consumption and increase of coffee demand across the globe and country. He noted that with the support of Coffee Board of India, it was the right and opportune time for the department and the State for leveraging on the conducive opportunity for increasing coffee plantation and also for improving market linkages and  for coming up with coffee processing capabilities. Mentioning that India stands as the 6th major coffee producer in the world, where it is being further projected to increase from 15 to 18% from the current level, the special guest encouraged the department to keep up with their awareness programmes and to continue to  support the coffee farmers.

Deputy Director, Land Resources who is the Supervisor of Dimapur District, PuvilKikhi while highlighting on the history of coffee plantation in Nagaland stated that during the early 80s, the Coffee Board of India (CBI) and Government of Nagaland jointly started Nagaland Plantation Crop Development Corporation in 1981 and coffee plantation started and did not fail. He however said that since CBI could not arrange market for the coffee farmers most of coffee plantation farms were abandoned by the farmers except for a few districts like Wokha, Mokokchung, Mon and Zunheboto. He went on to say that during 2014-15, the CBI again had a discussion with Land Resources Department and agreed for taking up coffee plantation whereby anMoU was signed. He informed that presently 8,996 hectares of coffee plantation has been developed in Nagaland where in the previous year alone 1,003 hectares has been developed in collaboration with CBI.

Spelling out the department's vision for 2020-30, Kikhi informed that the department has earmarked to develop 50,000 hectares of coffee and has started the vision in earnest. If we can develop 50,000 hectares the state would be able to generate a revenue of 1630 crores, he explained. Further, he said that till date (2019-20), the department has exported 27.5 metric tonnes of coffee to a South African company by the name of Noble Cause wherein a memorandum has been signed for 30 years. The Company has agreed to buy all the coffee products coming from Nagaland, he added. Kikhi also informed that two of the department's staff were trained for coffee development from Kathmandu from the British Coffee School. The trainers would be imparting training to the educated unemployed youths across all the districts of Nagaland and the training is scheduled to start from 10th August this year, so that the youths could take up coffee bars in their respective districts, Kikhi said.

He also informed about the department's latest initiative of taking up natural tea over and above the common tea. The department is promoting natural tea including butterfly pea tea, gooseberry tea, sumac tea, fresh ginger tea, rosella tea, cinnamon and moringa  tea which according to Kikhi has low cost, easily processed and has a lot of health benefits. With the latest initiative of natural tea and coffee which are all organic, the department has come up with the slogan, "Drink what you Grow" so that instead of buying from the market, one can grow and drink which is healthier, Kikhi concluded.

DPO, Dimapur, Land Resources Department, I.AcatoChishi affirmed that coffee could be taken up as an enterprise. He also announced that all visitors in the coffee bar would be offered (American, Espresso, Latte) coffee drinks free of cost with an aim to develop coffee drinking culture in Nagaland.

Special invitees including ADC Dimapur, Atokhe; CCF, HukatoChishi, IFS; Jt.Director, Industries and Commerce, Tokugha; DHO Dimapur, TemsuLongkumer; District Soil conservation officer and DPRO Dimapur, Lolano Patton were also part of the program.

Assistant Inspector, LRD, Aoyanger chaired the program while Grace Kikon proposed the vote of thanks.

(DPRO Dimapur)