Secretary, North Eastern Council (NEC), Satinder Kumar Bhalla, visited Tuophema Village on 2nd October 2026, to review the progress of coffee cultivation and associated infrastructure under the Coffee USP Project. During the visit, he inspected the coffee plantation sites and the Hi-Tech Coffee Washing Station and interacted with coffee growers and members of the Tuophema Cluster.
Bhalla stated that the Government of India is committed to the development and prosperity of every citizen and emphasized that the Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States have collectively evolved strategies aimed at enabling farmers to substantially enhance their incomes.
He said that the Coffee USP Project is envisaged not merely as a plantation initiative but as an integrated livelihood and economic development programme that can enable villages, societies and clusters to derive greater value from the natural and human resources of the region. He stated that the larger objective is to create sustainable livelihoods and enable communities to access better education, healthcare, modern amenities and improved quality of life, contributing to the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The Secretary observed that coffee development cannot be limited to planting coffee trees alone. For the sector to become commercially viable and competitive, it would require good road connectivity, modern processing machinery, efficient post-harvest infrastructure, quality assurance, value addition and strong market and export linkages.
He expressed the expectation that the project would contribute towards a substantial increase in the income of farmers and communities. He emphasized that achieving this objective would require the collective efforts of the Government of India, Government of Nagaland, Coffee Board, local administration, farmers, technical institutions and the private sector.
Bhalla further requested the Government of Nagaland and the Coffee Board to engage with relevant central agricultural institutions to identify suitable intercrops and complementary agricultural activities that could be undertaken in coffee plantations. Such diversification, he said, would improve land productivity and provide farmers with additional sources of income while strengthening the overall economic viability of coffee cultivation.
He assured the farmers that possibilities for water harvesting, mechanisation, new technologies and appropriate equipment would be examined to address the challenges faced by coffee growers. He also encouraged the local administration to engage with leading industrial houses, investors and exporters who could potentially support mechanisation and automation in the coffee sector through appropriate financial and institutional arrangements.
Acknowledging the contribution of young people to the development of the coffee sector, Bhalla appreciated Vibei Kense, the youngest coffee grower, who had travelled to Vietnam and obtained specialised certification in coffee. He said that such initiatives would help create local expertise and strengthen the coffee ecosystem in the region. He also urged the elders and present generation to work towards creating sustainable livelihoods and opportunities for the younger generation.
Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner, Government of Nagaland, Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, while interacting with the farmers, briefly highlighted the history of coffee cultivation in Nagaland. He noted that coffee cultivation initiatives in the State date back to 1981, but the sector could not achieve its full economic potential due to limited awareness, inadequate market linkages and other constraints.
He encouraged farmers to adopt a diversified and integrated approach, including the cultivation of black pepper and other suitable crops alongside coffee, wherever technically feasible. He emphasized that diversification and value addition could strengthen farm incomes and create additional employment opportunities for the local youth.
During the interaction, Village Council Chairman, Pfuduolhou Kense, speaking on behalf of the coffee growers and people of the Tuophema Cluster, welcomed the Secretary, NEC, and the visiting officials. He expressed gratitude to the Government of Nagaland and NEC for supporting the cluster with coffee saplings and financial assistance.
He highlighted key challenges faced by the coffee growers, particularly the shortage and high cost of labour for weeding and harvesting. He requested support for brush cutters and suitable harvesting equipment to reduce dependence on manual labour and improve efficiency.
He also highlighted the shortage of water for irrigation and post-harvest processing and requested support for water harvesting structures, storage tanks, irrigation facilities and other appropriate water-management systems. He stated that adequate water availability would be critical for maintaining coffee productivity and quality, particularly during dry periods and the post-harvest processing stage.
The Secretary, NEC, was accompanied by Dr. Sentitula, IFS, Director (Tourism & Industries), NEC; the Director and Additional Director, Department of Land Resources, Government of Nagaland; and a team of officers from NEC and the concerned departments, who participated in the field visit and interaction with the coffee growers.
The visit provided an opportunity for direct interaction with farmers and assessment of the field-level requirements for strengthening coffee production, processing and value addition. The discussions focused on developing an integrated coffee ecosystem encompassing production, water management, mechanisation, processing, quality improvement, market access and diversification, with the objective of creating sustainable and higher-income livelihood opportunities for the people of the region.
Short speeches were also delivered from Director Tourism and Industries (NEC) Dr. Sentitula, IFS; Additional Director and Project Director, Coffee of Nagaland USP, Hekato N; CEO, SLNA and Director of Land Resources, Albert Ngullie and Dr. Menuosietuo, District project Officer Kohima, LRD;
(Akamla, IA Chiephobozou)
