Shillong: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu is pushing to ramp up coffee production across the state. He wants higher quality beans and better pay for growers. Agriculture Department data shows the state currently has only 600 hectares of coffee plants.
Khandu spoke Saturday at the Hills to Cup Coffee Workshop in Itanagar. The Coffee Board of India and the state Agriculture Department hosted the event. Coffee growing started here fifty years ago, but it never gained real momentum. Khandu believes it is time for a change. He told attendees, "This is, in a way, the first chapter of Arunachal Pradesh stepping towards the history of coffee in Arunachal Pradesh."
The state government is now looking for new policy fixes. Khandu sent a three-member team, including Agriculture officials, a retired PCCF, and the Chairman of the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation, to study coffee models in Andhra Pradesh. Technical experts from the Coffee Board will identify existing gaps and offer suggestions for improvement. The government will then review those recommendations to provide support.
Most current plantations sit under the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation in the eastern part of the state. Other growers are running pilot projects. Khandu pointed out that the state has perfect soil and weather for the crop. He aims to boost output per hectare while strengthening the supply chain. Beyond the fields, he sees a major opportunity in the local tourism market. He encouraged young people to jump into the business. He noted, "Tourists who come to Arunachal always prefer coffee. With tourism growing so much in Arunachal, this is a very good avenue for our youngsters."
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