Famous For Its Tea, Assam Trying To Carve Its Name On India's Coffee Map

Coffee cultivation is mushrooming in Assam following the growth of cafes, government-backed guilds and organic farmers in the northeast.

A woman picking coffee cherries on a plantation. About 4,700 acres are used for coffee farming in the Northeast.

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Guwahati: Assam, famous for its tea worldwide, is also making efforts to carve its name in the coffee map of India. With the growth of cafes, government-backed guilds and organic farmers in the Northeast, coffee cultivation is mushrooming in Assam. 

Navin Kumar Bahl Ryntathiang, Joint Director, Coffee Board (northeastern region), said they have put a lot of emphasis towards making coffee cultivation a major farm produce in the region.  

"We have a total planted area of 4,600–4,700 hectares of coffee cultivation. From all seven states combined, the average production has been around 150 MT. Coffee is a biennial crop that is grown on an alternative schedule. If it has a high count for the current year, it can have a low count the next year," Ryntathiang told ABP Live.  

About 4,700 acres are used for coffee farming in the Northeast. According to data, coffee is cultivated on 479 hectares in Arunachal Pradesh, 429 hectares in Assam, 1,100 hectares in Meghalaya, 1,300 hectares in Mizoram, 932 hectares in Nagaland and  264 hectares in Tripura.

Arabica and Robusta are the two main types of coffee grown. Robusta is cultivated in lower altitudes (500–1000 meters above sea level) while Arabica is grown in altitudes 1000–1500 meters above sea level.

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While there are only two-three regions where coffee is grown in Assam, it is majorly cultivated in Haflong in Dima Hasao district. Mostly Arabica coffee is grown in Haflong.

Robusta coffee is mostly cultivated in Assam districts of Karbi Anglong, Chirang, Bijni besides others. A coffee research center is also located in Karbi Anglong.

Both the Arabica and Robusta types are produced in Assam and Meghalaya.

Arabica is mainly cultivated in Mizoram and Nagaland's steep terrain. Robusta coffee is mainly found in Arunachal Pradesh's Dirang area in the West Kameng district.

"Main farming areas are in Meghalaya and Mizoram. When it comes to producing coffee, Assam leads the way, followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya" Ryntathiang said.