Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: North Eastern Council Secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla visited Touphema village on October 2 to review the Coffee Utilisation of Surplus Potential project. He toured plantation sites and a Hi-Tech Coffee Washing Station. His message to the local growers was clear. "Coffee development cannot be limited to planting coffee trees alone," Bhalla stated. He demanded better roads, modern processing gear, and robust export ties to turn a simple crop into a thriving economic engine.
Bhalla pitched the project as an integrated development program. He wants it to boost local livelihoods and help move the nation toward a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Real change requires teamwork. He called for a joint effort between the Centre, the Nagaland government, the Coffee Board, and private investors. Success depends on everyone working together.
Nagaland has struggled with this crop for decades. Principal Secretary Y Kikheto Sema noted that efforts started back in 1981. Limited awareness and poor market links stalled progress for years. To fix this, officials now suggest planting black pepper alongside coffee. This diversification should sharpen land productivity and pad farmers' wallets.
The growers have needs. Village Council Chairman Pfuduolhou Kense asked for help with labor costs and irrigation. He requested brush cutters and harvesting tools. He also needs storage tanks and water-harvesting systems to survive dry spells. Bhalla promised to look into new technologies and mechanization to handle these gaps. He even praised Vibei Kense, a young grower who earned professional coffee certification in Vietnam, as a model for local expertise.
Nagaland currently runs cluster-based projects. Touphema focuses on Arabica. The Ghotovi district in Niuland grows Robusta. The state is also pushing a brand called Coffees of Nagaland to capture specialty markets.
Updated at 3rd October 2026 at 2:00pm
Bhalla wants the local administration to drag industrial houses, investors, and exporters into the fold. He says these players need to step up to support automation and mechanization through formal financial and institutional deals. The goal is to build sustainable livelihoods that go beyond just crop yields, aiming to provide villages better access to education, healthcare, and basic modern amenities.
A delegation of officials accompanied the Secretary, including Dr. Sentitula, Director of Tourism and Industries for the NEC, alongside directors from the state's Department of Land Resources. The official visit also featured briefings from Hekato N, the project director for coffee, and Albert Ngullie, CEO of the state level nodal agency.
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