ITANAGAR, Oct 3: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday called for concerted efforts to expand coffee cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh, improve productivity and bean quality, and increase farmers’ incomes through value addition and a stronger market linkage.

Addressing the inaugural session of the ‘Hills to Cup’ Coffee Workshop organised by the Coffee Board of India in collaboration with the state Department of Agriculture, Khandu said coffee cultivation was not new to Arunachal Pradesh, having begun in the state nearly five decades ago. However, he noted that its potential had not received adequate attention and promotion over the years.

Describing the workshop as an important step towards reviving and strengthening the state’s coffee sector, the Chief Minister said it brought growers, young entrepreneurs, technical experts and other stakeholders onto a common platform.

Khandu said the State Government would follow up on the outcomes of the workshop and examine appropriate policy interventions to support coffee growers and entrepreneurs.

He recalled that the government had constituted a three-member delegation comprising Agriculture Department officials, a retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Chairman of the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation to study coffee cultivation practices and development models in Andhra Pradesh and other states.

Following the delegation’s report, the government invited the Chairman and Director of the Coffee Board of India to Arunachal Pradesh. Their visit subsequently led to the organisation of the workshop to provide growers with technical inputs and first-hand knowledge of coffee cultivation.

According to Agriculture Department data cited by Khandu, around 600 hectares are currently under coffee cultivation in the state. A substantial portion of the existing plantations is under the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation in eastern Arunachal, while several growers have undertaken coffee cultivation as pilot and model initiatives.

Khandu said the state’s diverse agro-climatic conditions, fertile land and varied climatic zones provide scope for expanding coffee cultivation. He, however, stressed that expansion should be accompanied by higher productivity, improved bean quality and better returns to growers.

He said coffee also offered opportunities for young entrepreneurs in cultivation, processing and allied businesses, particularly with the state’s tourism sector witnessing growth.

The Chief Minister said the State Government had introduced several agriculture and horticulture interventions in recent years, but coffee had not yet received a dedicated policy framework. He said he would follow up with the Coffee Board to explore suitable measures for providing institutional support to the sector.

He urged growers and entrepreneurs attending the workshop to make full use of the technical sessions and raise their queries with Coffee Board experts. The technical discussions, he said, would help identify gaps and challenges in cultivation and enable experts to formulate recommendations for the State Government.

Khandu said the government would consider extending support based on the recommendations emerging from the workshop and called upon stakeholders to work collectively to develop coffee as a viable commercial crop and livelihood opportunity in Arunachal Pradesh. (Source: EoA)