Kohima: Nagaland’s Department of Land Resources, in partnership with the Coffee Board of India and AIC-CCRI-CED, hosted a landmark event titled ‘Coffee Canvas’ at the Capital Cultural Hall in Kohima, celebrating the state’s growing presence in the global coffee market. Held under the theme “A Journey from Farm to Global Market,” the event drew attention to the remarkable progress Nagaland has made in the coffee sector and the vast potential it still holds.
G. Ikuto Zhimomi, MLA and Advisor for Land Resources, addressed the gathering and highlighted the significant strides Nagaland coffee has made in recent years. Citing coffee as the world’s second most consumed beverage, Zhimomi emphasized that Nagaland is becoming a notable player in the Northeast’s coffee ecosystem. He shared that out of the state’s 10.4 lakh hectares of land suitable for coffee, only a fraction — 11,187 hectares — has been developed, underlining a vast opportunity waiting to be tapped.
Zhimomi proudly recalled Nagaland coffee’s international success, with wins at the Aurora International Taste Challenge in South Africa in 2021 and 2023, where it received both silver and gold honours. These recognitions, he said, reflect the region’s transition from commodity production to the crafting of specialty coffee — a transformation that promises to position Nagaland coffee as a unique global brand. He also spoke on the broader economic opportunities that coffee can create, including eco-tourism, youth employment, and a thriving café culture.
Director of Land Resources and CEO of SLNA, Albert Ngullie, outlined the department’s vision of expanding coffee cultivation to 50,000 hectares by 2047. He emphasized a threefold mission built on ecology, employment, and economy. Coffee, he said, is being promoted as an agro-forestry crop — a sustainable alternative to harmful farming practices such as slash-and-burn. On employment, Ngullie pointed to initiatives that have already led to the creation of 16 cafés, 12 washing stations, and 7 roasteries, with capacity-building efforts in full swing.
Despite only 8% of current plantations having reached the harvesting stage, the state has already produced 195.40 metric tonnes of parchment and cherry coffee. Ngullie expressed optimism that within two years, at least 50% of coffee plantations would be ready for harvest. He also highlighted the distinct taste profile of Nagaland coffee, shaped by elevation, rainfall, and traditional farming methods — factors the department aims to preserve through modern processing technologies and youth entrepreneurship.
The event opened with a welcome address by Dr. G. Hukugha Sema, Commissioner and Secretary of the Department of Land Resources, followed by a detailed briefing on the ‘Coffee Canvas’ initiative by Partha Pratim Choudary, Joint Director (Extension), Coffee Board, North Eastern Region. A series of technical sessions explored various aspects of the coffee value chain, including exports, brand management, packaging, and brewing.
Speakers included Ashvik K.S. on AIC-CCRI-CED and SDC, Dr. Babu Reddy on export prospects, Ramneek Hora and the HP Team on digital printing and packaging, and Ashish on branding. A live coffee brewing demonstration was conducted by the Coffee Quality Division of Eté Coffee. The session concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Hekato N, Additional Director of the Department of Land Resources, marking the close of an event that not only celebrated Nagaland’s coffee journey but also paved the way forward for its future in the global market.
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