Coffee to change Aruchal's economy: Wangsu

From our correspondent

Itagar, Nov 14: Coffee may soon replace tea in Kanubari if the present market trends continue as the tea growers are left at their receiving end, more so because the low price and shortage of laborers have seriously hit the farmers, said Chairman of Aruchal Pradesh State Council for Information Technology (APSCIT) and e-Governce Gabriel Deng Wangsu.

“Kanubari so far known for its lush green tea gardens may soon get recognition for coffee,” observed Wangsu, who is also the local MLA, while describing coffee as a suitable and sustaible altertive of the present day economy.

Addressing a team of officers from Coffee Board of India, State officials and public during various interactive sessions at Kanubari and Longhua village at Kanubari, the MLA said coffee offers scope for economic growth and helps in maintaining tural equilibrium, an official report stated.

Calling upon the people to seriously take up coffee farming as one of the sources of sustence by following the farming techniques and procedures, Wangsu said that forest and horticulture departments too would soon raise coffee nurseries with the help of Coffee Board.

Joint Director of Coffee Board Dr C G And, who arrived at Kanubari from Bangaluru to study the feasibility of coffee cultivation, said that Kanubari area is suitable for growing robusta coffee and the success stories of other parts of India can be replicated in this region.

Describing the first coffee nursery raised by a local entrepreneur Lempho Wangjen as beginning of a new chapter, Dr And assured all technical support from his office. Necessary aids and advices for raising coffee plantation would be made available at the doorsteps of the farmers, he assured.

Deputy Director of Coffee Board, P P Choudhury said the 5-member team is here as a follow up of the initiation by the State Chief Minister Pema Khandu to encourage coffee cultivation in the State.

10-15 farmers would soon be selected to undergo on-field training outside the State before coffee saplings are distributed for plantation, he said.

“More than hundred farmers are already taking up coffee farming in Deomali area in Tirap district and many more are ready to venture into this cash crop,” he added.