Nagaland coffee exporter and founder of Noble Cause South Africa, Dr. Pieter Vermeulen Thursday encouraged Nagas to take up coffee farming assuring that his company Noble Cause South Africa was committed to work with Nagaland coffee and will deliver best price for the farmers.
Interacting with media persons in Kohima after visiting coffee farms in various districts, Pieter said Nagaland coffee, which is grown in jungle, absorbs the flavour of forest making it special and unique.
Though Brazil is the biggest coffee producing country in the world, people look for organic produce and Nagaland being famous for producing organic items, the demand is very high, said Pieter.
He added that people from European countries are fascinated and attracted towards Nagaland coffee because of the unique tribal history.
He also said that with government support and technical support from his company, Nagaland coffee will go a long way and it will enhance the state’s economy as well.
He encouraged the farmers and unemployed youths to take up coffee plantation as coffee can fetch sustainable income. Pieter also reminded that farmers are more respectable than other professions in other countries.
While informing that the life span of raw coffee is one year while green coffee can be stored for two years, he said 27.5 metric tons of coffee has been exported to South Africa so far.
Minister of planning and coordination, Neiba Kronu who was also present at the press briefing said coffee is the second largest trade in the world after crude oil and that there is huge demand for coffee in South Africa, European countries and Arab countries as well.
Since 2016, Pieter has been visiting Nagaland frequently inspecting the coffee farms in various districts.
The department of land resource targets to promote 50,000 hectares of coffee plantation by 2027. Till date, the department has covered 8000 hectares of land with coffee and within the next five years, it is expected to harvest over 3000 metric tons of coffee annually.
District project officer, Dr. Menuosietuo Tseikha was also present at the press briefing.