Kohima, May 19: In a major step towards transforming Nagaland’s coffee sector into a globally recognized industry, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia jointly launched the “Cluster-based Coffee Value Chain Development in Nagaland” project on Monday.
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| Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia during the launch of the “Coffees of Nagaland” mission aimed at promoting coffee farming, branding and sustainable livelihoods in the state. (Image: X/Neiphiu_Rio) |
The initiative, launched virtually in the presence of Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar, Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister T. R. Zeliang, Adviser G. Ikuto Zhimomi, and representatives of the Coffee Board of India, aims to strengthen coffee cultivation through a cluster-based approach while enhancing farmer incomes, value addition, branding, and market access.
Addressing the programme, Scindia said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently encouraged innovative development models to transform livelihoods across the Northeast. He described the coffee initiative as an example of both a “whole-of-government” and a “whole-of-India” approach to unlocking the immense agricultural and economic potential of the region.
“We want to ensure that farmers receive a larger share of the agricultural value chain and that Nagaland coffee brands prosper in global markets,” Scindia said, emphasizing the importance of creating sustainable income opportunities for growers.
Chief Minister Rio described coffee as the “Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of Nagaland”, noting that the sector has witnessed remarkable growth since the revival of coffee plantations in 2014–15. He said coffee cultivation has emerged as a sustainable economic activity that supports rural livelihoods while contributing to environmental conservation.
According to Rio, Nagaland has set an ambitious target of expanding coffee cultivation to 50,000 hectares by 2047 under the state’s “Viksit Nagaland” vision. He highlighted that pilot clusters at Tuophema and Ghotovi would serve as model centres for the project, featuring modern facilities such as hi-tech nurseries, coffee washing stations, roasting units, and branding infrastructure.
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The initiative also seeks to position “Coffees of Nagaland” as a premium, traceable, single-origin brand capable of competing in national and international markets. In addition to strengthening the coffee value chain, the project will integrate experiential coffee tourism, including farm stays and visitor experiences, creating new opportunities for youth, entrepreneurs, and local communities.
Rio noted that the expansion of coffee cultivation could help reduce dependence on shifting cultivation (jhum), support forest conservation efforts, and protect Nagaland’s fragile hill ecosystem. He assured full support from the state government for the successful implementation of the project and urged farmers to adopt modern technologies and actively participate in training and capacity-building programmes.
“As we launch this project, we are planting not just coffee, but also hope, prosperity, and pride in our hills,” Rio said.
Officials said the initiative is expected to boost rural incomes, strengthen Nagaland’s agricultural economy, and establish the state as one of India’s leading specialty coffee-producing regions in the years ahead.
