Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday, 3 October called for a concerted push to expand coffee cultivation across the state, improve bean quality and productivity, and strengthen the value chain to raise incomes for coffee growers. The appeal came at the inaugural ceremony of the 'Hills to Cup' Coffee Workshop in Itanagar, organised by the Coffee Board of India in collaboration with the state's Agriculture Department.

Current Scale and Untapped Potential

According to data available with the state's Agriculture Department, Arunachal Pradesh currently has only around 600 hectares under coffee cultivation — a figure Khandu described as well below the state's actual potential. He noted that coffee cultivation in the state began nearly five decades ago, yet the crop has not received adequate awareness or promotion over the years.

A substantial portion of the existing plantation, he noted, falls under the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation in eastern Arunachal, while several growers attending the workshop have taken up coffee as pilot or model initiatives.

Policy Interventions on the Horizon

Khandu said the state government would explore appropriate policy measures to support coffee growers and entrepreneurs. He disclosed that he had constituted a three-member delegation — comprising Agriculture officials, a retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), and the Chairman of the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation — to visit Andhra Pradesh and other states to study coffee cultivation practices and development models.

He also said he would personally follow up with the Coffee Board of India to determine what specific policy measures could be introduced to support the sector. The Chief Minister acknowledged that while the state government had rolled out several schemes under agriculture and horticulture over the past five to six years, coffee had not received a dedicated policy intervention so far.

Workshop as a Turning Point

Khandu described the workshop as a significant milestone, bringing together growers, young entrepreneurs, technical experts, and other stakeholders on a common platform. 'This is, in a way, the first chapter of Arunachal Pradesh stepping towards the history of coffee in Arunachal Pradesh,' he said.

He added that the workshop would help identify technical gaps and challenges faced by growers, after which the Coffee Board of India's technical experts would prepare recommendations for the state government. 'As they recommend, the state government will extend full support to you in the coming days,' Khandu assured participants.

Tourism, Youth, and the Bigger Picture

The Chief Minister stressed that the objective should not merely be to increase the area under cultivation, but also to improve productivity per hectare, enhance bean quality, and boost farmer incomes through value addition. He pointed to the state's diverse agro-climatic conditions, fertile land, and varied climatic zones as a favourable foundation for expansion.

Notably, Khandu linked coffee's growth prospects to Arunachal's booming tourism sector. '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, urging young people to explore coffee cultivation, processing, and related enterprises as avenues for employment and entrepreneurship. He also highlighted the growing global market for coffee and its potential as a commercial crop.

With a dedicated delegation now on study tours and a policy framework in the works, the sector's trajectory over the next one to two years will be closely watched by growers and entrepreneurs across the state.