Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh is looking to expand coffee cultivation and develop a stronger value chain aimed at improving productivity, bean quality and returns for growers, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said.
Khandu was speaking at the inaugural ‘Hills to Cup’ Coffee Workshop, organised by the Coffee Board of India in collaboration with the state Agriculture Department.
He said coffee cultivation was not new to Arunachal Pradesh, where the crop was introduced nearly five decades ago. However, the sector had not received sustained attention to fully realise its potential, he said.
Khandu described the workshop as a new beginning for the state’s coffee sector, bringing together growers, entrepreneurs and technical experts to discuss challenges and opportunities.
According to Agriculture Department figures, coffee is currently cultivated across around 600 hectares in Arunachal Pradesh. Khandu said the state’s diverse climate, fertile land and varied agro-climatic conditions offered scope for expanding cultivation to additional areas.
However, he said increasing the area under coffee alone should not be the objective. Greater emphasis was needed on productivity, bean quality, processing, value addition and improving the income of farmers.
The Chief Minister said the state government had studied coffee development models in other parts of the country. A three-member team comprising officials from the Agriculture Department, a retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the chairman of the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation had visited Andhra Pradesh and other states to examine cultivation practices and successful models.
Following the team’s findings, the state government invited the chairman and director of the Coffee Board of India to visit Arunachal Pradesh. Their visit subsequently contributed to the organisation of the ‘Hills to Cup’ workshop.
Khandu said the technical sessions at the workshop would help identify challenges faced by coffee growers. Experts from the Coffee Board are expected to submit recommendations to the state government based on the discussions.
“As they recommend, the State Government will extend full support to you in the coming days,” Khandu told participants.
He said several agriculture and horticulture schemes had been introduced in the state over the past five to six years, but coffee had not yet received a dedicated policy push. Khandu said he would personally follow up with the Coffee Board on measures to support the sector.
A significant portion of Arunachal Pradesh’s existing coffee plantations is managed by the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation in the eastern part of the state. Several other growers participating in the workshop have taken up coffee cultivation through pilot and model projects.
Khandu also highlighted coffee as a potential avenue for young entrepreneurs in the state. With tourism expanding across Arunachal Pradesh, he said locally produced coffee could find a growing market among visitors.
“Tourists who come to Arunachal always prefer coffee. With tourism growing so much in Arunachal, this is a very good avenue for our youngsters,” he said.
He encouraged young people to explore opportunities beyond cultivation, particularly in coffee processing, value addition and related businesses.
The Chief Minister also pointed to the expanding global coffee market and the commercial opportunities associated with the crop.
For existing growers, Khandu said the immediate priority was to identify factors affecting production and quality and develop practical solutions. He urged participants to make use of the technical sessions and engage directly with Coffee Board experts.
The state government’s focus, he said, should extend beyond increasing the number of coffee plantations to improving production, strengthening markets and ensuring better returns for growers.