The high-profile event was graced by the august presence of Nagaland Chief Minister Shri Neiphiu Rio, Deputy CM Shri T. R. Zeliang, and Minister of State Shri Sukanta Majumdar.
A 'Whole of India' approach Addressing the gathering, Minister Scindia emphasized that this initiative follows a "Whole of India" approach, bringing together governments, farmers, entrepreneurs, and market leaders on a single platform. He stated that the mission ensures farmers become true stakeholders in the entire agricultural value chain.
Strategic clusters and global branding The mission will follow a cluster-based model, with two pilot sites already identified: Tuophema village (Kohima) for Arabica and Ghotovi village (Niuland) for Robusta coffee. The roadmap includes:
Branding: Establishing "Coffees of Nagaland" as a premium brand through media campaigns and trade fairs.
Quality Assurance: Utilizing GI tagging, organic certification, and digital traceability to secure a place in international markets.
Tourism: Integrating coffee farm-stays and "farm-to-cup" experiences to promote niche specialty coffee tourism.
Sustainable development and livelihoods Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio lauded the mission as a "milestone," noting that coffee cultivation is a sustainable alternative to traditional shifting cultivation (Jhum). MDoNER Secretary Shri Sanjay Jaju highlighted that the project will provide shared infrastructure and technical support, allowing small farmers to capture better value at the farm gate.
With the government's full commitment, this mission is set to create sustainable livelihoods and encourage rural youth to participate in Nagaland's growing coffee economy.
