North Eastern Council Secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla visited high-altitude Arabica coffee cultivation sites in Nagaland to review the Coffee USP Project. The visit took place in Tuophema village of the Kohima district from October 2 to October 4, 2026. The project is part of the Coffees of Nagaland mission launched on May 19, 2026, with an outlay of Rs 175 crore. The official inspection details were reported by United News of India.
The project aims to transform coffee cultivation into a complete economic development program. Bhalla stated that commercial viability needs investments in road connectivity, modern processing machinery, and efficient post-harvest infrastructure. The project currently supports pilot clusters like Tuophema for Arabica and Ghotovi for Robusta across 400 hectares. The broader mission aims to cover 50,000 hectares by 2047.
Land under cultivation has grown to over 11,600 hectares since the sector revival in 2014-15. Production increased from 12 tonnes in 2020-21 to about 73 tonnes in 2024-25. Officials are addressing labor shortages and high costs by exploring mechanical solutions and water harvesting. The state government, the Coffee Board of India, and central institutions are working to identify intercropping activities to increase farmer income.
