DIMAPUR: In a significant step towards strengthening Nagaland’s emerging coffee industry, Dr. Sentitula, director of Tourism & Industries, North Eastern Council (NEC), Shillong, Ministry of DoNER, conducted a comprehensive pre investment site inspection of the Ghotovi and Tuophema clusters under the “Cluster based Coffee Value Chain Development in Nagaland” project on June 22 and 23, 2026.
The visit formed part of NEC’s strategic assessment under the regional Mission Coffee initiative, aimed at developing an integrated “Seed to Cup” value chain to enhance production, processing, value addition, branding and market access, while positioning Nagaland as a producer of specialty single origin organic coffee. Accompanied by officials from the department of Land Resources, Dr. Sentitula undertook detailed field inspections to evaluate readiness of critical infrastructure and plantation components.
At Ghotovi cluster, she interacted with farmers and village leaders from Nihokhu, Nikhekhu, Kuhoxu, Niuland, Hovishe and Ghotovi villages, stressing the socio economic impact of coffee cultivation, including improved household incomes, sustainable land use practices and employment generation. Commending community participation, she noted that Ghotovi has the potential to become a model for coffee based rural transformation in Nagaland and the wider Northeast.
At Tuophema cluster, she inspected plantations adopting intercropping practices with avocado and black pepper, proposed sites for Coffee Washing Stations (CWS), and a Hi Tech Coffee Nursery. She also visited large plantation expansions, including a 20 hectare site with nearly 40,000 coffee plants, and smaller plots at Tseimekhuma and Chiechama villages.
Reviewing field observations, Dr. Sentitula directed the implementing department to ensure strict adherence to operational and financial guidelines before release of project funds.
She emphasized the need for community institutions, signed MoUs, dedicated bank accounts, and sustained technical support and monitoring. The visit concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing Mission Coffee Nagaland and creating a sustainable, market driven ecosystem integrating production, processing, branding and rural entrepreneurship, thereby positioning Nagaland as a leading coffee producing state in the Northeast.
