Nagaland possesses highly favourable agro-climatic conditions
Nagaland’s coffee is steadily gaining popularity, with local communities embracing its culture and tradition, said G. Ikuto Zhimomi, advisor of Land Resources on Monday. Speaking at the Coffee Canvas event in Kohima, he highlighted the state’s tremendous potential in coffee cultivation and its growing global recognition.
The event was organised by department of Land Resources in collaboration with The Coffee Board of India & AIC-CCRI-CED under the theme” A journey from Farm to Global Market” at the Capital Cultural Hall, Kohima.
He said Nagaland has highly favorable agro-climatic conditions for growing coffee.
While 10.4 lakh hectares—62.7% of the state’s total geographical area—is suitable for coffee, only 1.08% (11,186 hectares) is currently under cultivation, he said.
Despite the limited production, Nagaland coffee has earned international accolades, winning a silver in 2021 and a gold in 2023 at the Aurora International Taste Challenge (AITC) in South Africa, Ikuto said.
Iktuo emphasized that coffee is evolving from a commodity to a specialty product, setting a benchmark for emerging coffee-producing regions. The government of Nagaland has officially recognized coffee as a key identity product and Unique Selling Point (USP), ensuring authenticity and market value. He also highlighted broader economic benefits, including employment in plantations, processing, eco-tourism, and coffee-themed cafés.
Director of Land Resources, Albert Ngullie, revealed that the department has set a long-term target of 50,000 hectares by 2047, marking India’s centenary of independence. He emphasized that coffee development follows three principles—Ecology, Employment, and Economy—with eco-friendly agro-forestry practices being encouraged.
Currently, only 8% (863 hectares) of cultivated coffee is in the harvesting stage, yielding 195.4 metric tonnes. However, production is expected to increase significantly as more plantations reach maturity, he said.
Albert informed that department has also facilitated 16 coffee cafés, 12 washing stations, and 7 roasteries, alongside training and exposure programs for local entrepreneurs.
To maintain quality, the state is investing in advanced processing infrastructure and scientific techniques to enhance production from farm to cup, he said.
The Coffee Canvas event served as a platform for farmers, entrepreneurs, and industry experts to explore innovations in coffee branding, processing, and global marketing. Sessions included discussions on coffee exports, digital printing, packaging, brand management, and brewing demonstrations by leading coffee specialists.
With Nagaland’s coffee gaining international recognition, stakeholders hope it will further establish the state as a premier coffee-producing region while boosting local livelihoods and economic growth.
Earlier in the programme, a welcome address was delivered by Commissioner & Secretary, department of Land Resources, Dr. G. Hukugha Sema followed by a brief note on Coffee Canvas by Joint Director (Extn.), Coffee Board, North Eastern Region, Guwahati, Partha Pratim Choudary. The inaugural programme ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Addl. Director, Department of Land Resources, Hekato N.
The event also witnessed a technical session on introduction to AIC-CCRI-CED & SDC by Ashvik K.S., Incubation Manager, AIC-CCRI-CED, session on Coffee Exports by Dr. Babu Reddy, Deputy Director (Market Research), Coffee Board of India, Presentation on Digital Printing and Packaging by Ramneek Hora and the HP Team Session on Brand Management by Ashish, Founder of We Brand Coffee and Hora Arts, New Delhi (Vendor of HP), and Live Coffee Brewing Demonstration (Manual & Machine Methods) by the Coffee Quality Division, Eté Coffee.