Coffee beans grown in a farm in Nagaland. (Morung file Photo)
Kohima, October 1 (MExN): The Directorate of Land Resources, Government of Nagaland, on Thursday observed International Coffee Day 2026 at its office here with a programme highlighting the potential of coffee cultivation, value-chain development and emerging opportunities for the state’s coffee sector.
Held on the theme ‘Coffee is Part of the Solution,’ the event brought together officials, growers, entrepreneurs and financial institutions.
Dr Sentitula, IFS, Director (Tourism & Industries) at the North Eastern Council (NEC) Secretariat, Shillong, under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), described coffee as Nagaland’s unique selling proposition and stressed the need to develop the sector as a complete value chain.
“The NEC is supporting the State Government as a funding and guiding agency for the mission,” she said.
She outlined a vision of strengthening the sector from cultivation and quality planting material to processing, QR-based traceability, GI tagging, branding, marketing and export.
“Developing the entire value chain within Nagaland would enhance the value of coffee and ensure greater benefits for farmers,” she said.
Khenyen Konyak, a coffee grower from Tobu in Mon district, shared his experience of starting a plantation and spoke about the challenges growers face, including poor road conditions in the initial days.
He appreciated the support provided by the Department of Land Resources, including machinery, saplings and field visits, and encouraged farmers to work with a clear vision for the future.
Searon Yanthan, Director (Marketing) of Lithanro Pvt Ltd and founder and proprietor of Juro Coffee House, said the company has spent six to seven years building a farm-to-cup coffee ecosystem, with growing markets in India, Canada and the UK.
Speaking on the theme “Shaping Opportunities and a Distinct Identity for Nagaland Coffees”, he encouraged youth to explore opportunities across the coffee value chain and urged farmers to focus on quality, consistency and proper post-harvest practices.
The role of the Board in promoting coffee development through technical support, training and capacity-building programmes was also highlighted, along with Nagaland’s favourable agro-climatic conditions and its potential in the specialty coffee segment.
Emphasis was laid on quality improvement, value addition, market identity and agri-tourism. The speakers acknowledged the continued support of the Land Resources Department in promoting Nagaland coffee and taking it to the global platform.
Pauliankap Bulte, General Manager and Officer-in-Charge of NABARD’s Nagaland Regional Office, spoke on “Financing Growth and Opportunities in Nagaland’s Coffee Sector”.
He said NABARD supports financial literacy programmes conducted through banks, with around 500-600 such programmes held across the state, besides supporting Centres for Financial Literacy in 15 locations.
On coffee development, Bulte highlighted NABARD’s partnership with the Land Resources Department through the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), as well as support extended to coffee value-chain projects.
He emphasised the need for a conducive policy environment so that farmers and entrepreneurs can access bank finance for cultivation, processing, marketing and branding.
Bulte also pointed to Nagaland’s unique land ownership system as a challenge in accessing institutional credit, and called for appropriate policy measures to facilitate bank financing and promote coffee development.
