Officials from CBI and Founder and Co-founder of Tuensang Hills with the participants along with the officials of Land Resource Department. (morung photo)
Morung Express News
Tuensang | October 28
A one-day training programme on coffee cultivation was held in Tuensang to build technical knowledge among local farmers in Nagaland.
The training, organised by Tuensang Hills Coffee in collaboration with the Coffee Board of India (CBI), was conducted at the Chang Baptist LashongThangyen (CBLT) conference hall in Tuensang Town on October 27.
The programme aimed to equip farmers with expertise in key areas, including nursery preparation, advanced farm techniques and practices, farm management, as well as harvest and post-harvest handling.
Around 30 participants took part in the session, which was facilitated by DipanjaliKemprai, Senior Liaison Officer, and N ImtisungchitImchen, Assistant Extension Officer, both from the Coffee Board’s Mokokchung office. Officials from the Land Resources Department, Tuensang, also attended the training, underscoring the department’s continued support in promoting coffee cultivation in the district.
Founder of Tuensang Hills Coffee, PangshaChingmak, said the training was initiated to empower farmers with practical skills and promote coffee as a viable livelihood option in Tuensang district. He highlighted the district’s suitable terrain and climate for coffee cultivation and emphasized plans for sustained follow-up programs and field support to assist farmers after the training.
Responding to questions, Kemprai explained that the collaboration began when Chingmak approached the Coffee Board with details of his startup, Tuensang Hills Coffee, which has been selected for incubation under AIC CCRI-CED. “Our office came forward to boost his startup by providing technical knowledge to the farmers to produce good quality coffee,” she said.
Kemprai added that the Coffee Board continues to support farmers across Nagaland through the Integrated Coffee Development Project, offering subsidies, training, and assistance from “bean to cup.” She also mentioned plans to strengthen market linkages to ensure better prices for local produce and to organize more quality-improvement trainings in the future.
On challenges faced in promoting coffee cultivation in the Northeast, Kemprai noted that small and scattered farm holdings, poor road connectivity, and limited manpower make regular monitoring difficult. To bridge communication gaps, the Board has created WhatsApp groups for quick dissemination of information and encourages farmers to access details of schemes and technical support through the official Coffee Board website.
Highlighting the growing recognition of Naga coffee, Kemprai said, “The future of Naga coffee looks promising. Many entrepreneurs and farmers are coming forward, and Nagaland coffee is gaining recognition for its organic nature and quality.” She cited the state’s achievements at the Aurora International Taste Challenge winning a silver plaque in 2021 and a gold award in 2023 as evidence of its rising reputation in the specialty coffee market.
The training concluded with interactive discussions and a call to strengthen community-based efforts for sustainable coffee cultivation in Eastern Nagaland.
