Shillong , Oct. 24: A One Day Technical Workshop on Post Harvest Management and Marketing Linkage on Coffee was held at SMELC, Dakopgre Tura on Tuesday. The programme was jointly organised by Coffee Board, Government of India, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Meghalaya Basin Development Authority and Soil and Water Conservation Department, Government of Meghalaya.
Speaking on the occasion as Chief Guest, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Pravin Bakshi expressed his happiness seeing a good number of Coffee growers in the region. He mentioned that coffee which is referred to as Brown Gold is not bound by economies of market and depends on the quality of coffee beans. He also spoke about the importance of grading, branding and packaging of Coffee which is being produced in the region and if branded well has the potential to bring attractive remunerative returns.
In his keynote address Dr. V R G Gowda, Joint Director (Extension) Coffee Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Government of Meghalaya, spoke about the establishment of the Coffee Board in the region since 1997 and the necessary requirements and climatic conditions required for growing coffee. He informed that coffee is being cultivated in all the states of North East Region particularly in Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya and there are about 1700 coffee growers in Meghalaya.
Director NRM, Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), Meghalaya Shillong, R R B R Thabah informed the gathering about the purpose of the workshop and called upon the beneficiaries to work together as partners in order to promote agro-forestry in the region.
Dr. T N Gopinandhan, Bio-Chemist, CCRI, Coffee Board, Karnataka explained in detail about the methods of processing coffee beans for better quality while Webstar D Shira shared his experiences as a progressive farmer, issues and challenges faced with regard to marketing linkages in the region and his progressive stride by introducing multiple cropping in his farm land.
Gautam Chakravarty, OSD, NRM, MBDA, Shillong, Daniel Ingty, Director, Western Zone MBDA, Dharmendra Das, representative from Spices Board, officials from Divisional Forest Office (Wildlife), Soil & Water Conservation, Coffee Board and Coffee Growers of the region were present at the function. (I&PR)