Scindia, Rio launch Nagaland’s coffee value chain devpt project

Dimapur: Union minister of development of north eastern region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia and Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio jointly launched the ‘Cluster-based Coffee Value Chain Development in Nagaland’ project at Sanchar Bhavan, New Delhi, on Monday.Nagaland deputy CM TR Zeliang, adviser to the land resources department G Ikuto Zhimomi, senior govt officials, representatives of the Coffee Board of India, farmers, and entrepreneurs were also present during the e-launch of the project.CM Rio expressed gratitude to the DoNER minister for his generous support for the transformative project concerning the development of coffee in Nagaland.He said Rs 44.06 crore is being provided by the DoNER and North Eastern Council to the Nagaland land resources department for the project. Highlighting the potential of coffee in the state, Rio said coffee is no longer just an alternative crop, it is becoming a vehicle for sustainable prosperity.From just 21MT in 2021–22, production has grown to nearly 73MT in 2024-25, with the further aim to achieve 50,000 hectares by 2047 under Viksit Nagaland, he said.Rio said under the project, two pilot clusters, Tuophema in Kohima district and Ghotovi in Niuland district, have been chosen, which will further be extended to all the districts of Nagaland.The pilot project will be equipped with hi-tech nurseries to ensure quality planting material, modern post-harvest infrastructure, including nine washing stations and roasteries, to add value at the farm gate, and branding and marketing campaign to establish ‘Coffees of Nagaland’ as a premium, traceable, single-origin brand.