Areas under coffee plantation rise to 10202 Ha in Nagaland

LRD’s AAR shows no increase in rubber plantation

Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 10

The total area promoted under the coffee plantation in Nagaland has increased to10, 202.2 hectare (Ha) in 2022-23, as per an official report. 

During the last financial year, an additional area of 370 Ha has been brought under coffee plantation under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Watershed Development Component (PMKSYWDC 2.0), informed the Annual Administrative Report (AAR) 2022-23 of the Land Resources Development (LRD) Nagaland.

As per the department, coffee development is being undertaken in the State under promoting ‘green economy’ for achieving the 3 ES (Ecology, Employment and Economy) for ecological, social and economic benefits. 

Specifically, the expansion of plantation is undertaken under ‘field to cup’ promotion of coffee.

The Morung Express, citing GIS LRD Nagaland, had reported in October 2020 that an estimated 10,40,100 Ha or 62.7% of the State’s total geographical area of 16,57,900 Ha is suitable for coffee plantation.

Then the area under cultivation was around 7,996 Ha across Nagaland. In October 2022, the PTI news agency reported that Arabica coffee plantation covers around 8,412.49 Ha while the Robusta coffee plantation covers 1,419.7 Ha in Nagaland for a total of around 9832.19 Ha.

The area has increased to to10, 202.2 Ha as per the latest AAR of the LRD. 

As envisaged in the Vision Document 2030, the Department has a comprehensive plan to develop 50,000 Ha of coffee in the State by 2027.

Meanwhile, as per the LRD’s AAR 2022-23, during the year, Department supported capacity building and training of coffee growers and promoted nurseries across the state with certified seed coffee procured from Coffee Board during the year.

Further, pre-harvest and post-harvest were imparted respectively to 30 and 95 coffee growers.

Under the slogan ‘Drink what you grow’ to inculcate coffee drinking culture in the State and to promote coffee-based entrepreneurship among educated unemployed youths, 
5 days intensive Barista training was conducted.

Under the same theme, trainings on promotion of natural teas such as Butterfly Pea, Rosella, Ginger, Sumac, Cinnamon & Gooseberry teas were conducted across the State.

A total of 24 Entrepreneurs across 12 districts were supported with one-time assistance for setting up low-cost infrastructure for processing, packaging and labeling of natural teas, the report added. 

Rubber Development ‘inelastic’
While coffee plantation in Nagaland increased in 2022-23, the case of rubber seems to be ‘inelastic.’

As per the LRD’s AAR, the total area coverage under rubber in the State stood at 
19,132.5 Ha, the same figure cited in its last year report. 

However, the areas covered under tapping increased from 4,989 Ha in 2021-22 to 5,856 Ha in 2022-23. 
Despite this, the annual production stood unchanged at 15,700 MT.

The total areas under rubber plantation attaining maturity also decreased from 14,100 Ha to 13,276.5 Ha during the same period.

Meanwhile, from under NABARD funded Rural Infrastructure Development Fund ( RIDF-XXIV), a total of  44 roller machines were distributed to growers covering about 140 Ha of matured plantation clusters in Chümoukedima, Niuland, Peren, Wokha, and Mokokchung districts, the report said. 

It has also generated direct and indirect economic activities for about 150 households in the state, it informed. 
Like coffee, rubber plantation is being developed to promote ‘green economy’ for achieving 3 ES.

Arecanut Development
As per the AAR 2022-23 of the LRD, the total area under arecanut plantation in the state stood at 1,267 Ha.
Under the untied fund, the Department procured and distributed about 66,000 arecanut saplings covering six districts.
An additional area of 40 Ha was also brought under arecanut plantation during the reporting period. 

The department has been promoting the crop to achieve dual objectives of generating employment and utilising the leaf sheaths for making eco-friendly cutleries as a replacement to plastics, the report maintained. 

Springshed Management
Apart from plantation, the Springshed Management is another activity of the Department with as a ‘climate proofing’ strategy.

As per the Department, Springshed management is an intervention in the recharge zones of springs by employing social, vegetative and engineering measures in the catchment area of springs to revive or rejuvenate drying or dried up springs.

Springs are the primary source of water for rural communities in the state, it said. 

The report noted that during 2022-23, 185 natural springs covering 50 micro-watersheds were “inventorised” 185 under 05 PMKSY-WDC 2.0 projects.

Under NABARD Springshed based Watershed Development Project, 8 additional projects approved and are under Pre-Project Implementation Phase, it said. 

Among others, the LRD also inked  a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ACWADAM (Advanced Center for Water Resources Development and Management)

For undertaking hydrogeological survey and drawing up Water security plans for 15 critical springs under PMKSY-WDC 2.0, it added. 

What is LRD? 
The Department of Land Resources was established by Government of Nagaland in September, 1993 to implement watershed programme and other community-based schemes with funding support from Central and State Government. 

As per the report, the Department is focused on addressing the challenges of environmental, social, economic, livelihood securities which are caused mainly due to increasing pressure on natural resources coupled with degradation of land and water. 

“Sustainable development of the natural resources to increase land productivity and provide livelihood opportunities to the people is the primary objective of the department,” it said. 

With ‘Waste to Health’ as its vision, the Department’s mission is to evolve integrated strategies for management of natural resources, aimed at achieving functional ecological economy on a sustainable basis, it added.