Coffee the future apple for lower Himachal?

26

HimVani

Mandi: If experimental plantation by some progressive and enterprising farmers in the lower belts of the state is any indication, Himachal Pradesh may soon emerge as one of the coffee producing regions in the country. So much so that optimists are even visualizing another revolution in the state, predicting that coffee could be the apple substitute for lower Himachal.

Coffee cultivation had primarily been restricted to southern states of India. However, efforts are being made to popularize its cultivation successfully elsewhere in the country too, Himachal Pradesh being one such state. Agricultural experts claim climatic conditions and land in the lower belt of Himachal are suitable for cultivation of coffee.

Motivated by two incentives – rising domestic demand and attractive prices, Vikram Sharma from Majhauli village in Bilaspur district has been experimenting with the plantation of coffee trees since his visit to Karnataka 10 years ago. He found the climate there identical to that of Bilaspur region of Himachal Pradesh. Seeds of Kenyan, Brazilian and Indian (Kaveri and Hemavati) varieties of coffee were procured and an experimental plantation of 50 plants was done. To his joy, the results were astonishing and he was encouraged to embark upon the new venture on a large scale.

As per Vikas, around 220 coffee trees can be grown in one bigha (1000 sq meter) of land. No irrigation is required as the rain-fed coffee plants flourish in arid, rocky and dry belts also. The trees bear fruit after 3 years of plantation. He is proud to claim that compared to Karnataka, where the yield from one plant is 1kg to 2kg, in Ghumarwi the yield from one plant is 3 kg. He claims that coffee can also prove a boon for Himachal Pradesh in checking environmental degradation as these evergreen leguminous trees enrich the soil by recycling nutrients from deeper layers of earth and effectively prevent soil erosion.

Another progressive farmer from Hamirpur district also ventured into plantation of coffee trees in Samtana village where he grew over 1,000 plants of coffee as a diversification from the traditional cycle of wheat-maize. He has cultivated half hectare of land with coffee. The results have been startling, encouraging for other farmers also to adopt cultivation of coffee plants. Experts claim coffee plantation can be done in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra and Chamba districts.

These farmers are of the view that the state government should take cognizance of their efforts and should encourage plantation of coffee trees in the lower belts of Himachal Pradesh on a large scale to usher in a new coffee revolution.

Edited by Johar Singh

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26 COMMENTS

  1. hi johar, how can i get in touch with these farmers? i'm very interested in this and i'm willing to talk to them about business and importing coffee to australia in future if it's any good. 

    • Above article boasts of only Individual claims, on yield, etc. Are these certified by any Govt. agency? Agriculture University Palampur must be roped to conduct feasibility study and if found conducive Govt. must step in to promote it further. We should be wait rather than take anything in haste.

      • if this thing was to become a success, two entities need to be avoided at any costs are the govt. and the agril uni at palampur. independent research and private funding by interested parties is the only way to go. 

  2. hi johar, how can i get in touch with these farmers? i'm very interested in this and i'm willing to talk to them about business and importing coffee to australia in future if it's any good. 

    • Above article boasts of only Individual claims, on yield, etc. Are these certified by any Govt. agency? Agriculture University Palampur must be roped to conduct feasibility study and if found conducive Govt. must step in to promote it further. We should be wait rather than take anything in haste.

      • if this thing was to become a success, two entities need to be avoided at any costs are the govt. and the agril uni at palampur. independent research and private funding by interested parties is the only way to go. 

  3. Great! I for one am very interested to purchase Himachali coffee! Is it being marketed yet?? I always bought the Devan's brand of south Indian coffees, which are very high quality and attractively marketed in various blends. I know many long term westerners living in the Mcleodganj area also buy Devan's regularly. I'm sure they too would be eager to switch to a locally grown coffee.

    • thanks for showing ur interest in himachal's coffee .you can get himachal's coffee .please contact us by calling on this no. 09816368749 .

      and for ur 2nd query himachali coffee is not marketed yet .

      it is only produced by us in the northern region of country .you can also visit our farm situated at district bilaspur.tehsil-ghurmawin vpo.-marhana pin code-174028

      AND WE ALSO HAVE COFFEE PLANTATION FOR SALE.

  4. Great! I for one am very interested to purchase Himachali coffee! Is it being marketed yet?? I always bought the Devan's brand of south Indian coffees, which are very high quality and attractively marketed in various blends. I know many long term westerners living in the Mcleodganj area also buy Devan's regularly. I'm sure they too would be eager to switch to a locally grown coffee.

    • thanks for showing ur interest in himachal's coffee .you can get himachal's coffee .please contact us by calling on this no. 09816368749 .

      and for ur 2nd query himachali coffee is not marketed yet .

      it is only produced by us in the northern region of country .you can also visit our farm situated at district bilaspur.tehsil-ghurmawin vpo.-marhana pin code-174028

      AND WE ALSO HAVE COFFEE PLANTATION FOR SALE.

  5. Thanks for sharing this article. Well done and good luck with your very great work. I wish you have a luxury time to consider using benefits articles can offer. good blogging. Regards

  6. Thanks for sharing this article. Well done and good luck with your very great work. I wish you have a luxury time to consider using benefits articles can offer. good blogging. Regards

  7. There is aerror inthe name of the village the name is Manjhoti near LAdraur p.o Marhana Teh.ghumarwin Distt.Bilaspur H.P 174028 contact numbers 9816368749 youb can also contact us at the number 9805643799

  8. There is aerror inthe name of the village the name is Manjhoti near LAdraur p.o Marhana Teh.ghumarwin Distt.Bilaspur H.P 174028 contact numbers 9816368749 youb can also contact us at the number 9805643799

  9. the farmer you stated above from village samtana taken 1 thousand plants from my coffee nursery previous year .Ihave experimented all these [cofee plants,guava one k.g sinnamum, "dal chini"all spice plants rudraksha original } 10 years ago

  10. the farmer you stated above from village samtana taken 1 thousand plants from my coffee nursery previous year .Ihave experimented all these [cofee plants,guava one k.g sinnamum, "dal chini"all spice plants rudraksha original } 10 years ago

  11. The cofee plantation is availaBLE NOW YOU CAN GET PLANTS AT VILLAGE MANJHOTI NEARE LADRAUR AT MANDI ROAD VIA HATWAR., DEHRA THE ROAD TO THE VILLAGE MANJHOTI GOES FROM SAMLAH IF YOU CAN NOT FIND CALL US AT 097361900000 973612159 9816368749

  12. The cofee plantation is availaBLE NOW YOU CAN GET PLANTS AT VILLAGE MANJHOTI NEARE LADRAUR AT MANDI ROAD VIA HATWAR., DEHRA THE ROAD TO THE VILLAGE MANJHOTI GOES FROM SAMLAH IF YOU CAN NOT FIND CALL US AT 097361900000 973612159 9816368749

  13. thanks for introduction.Iam interested in coffee plantation on my land in hamirpur.please make it a point &guide . 9868742494

  14. thanks for introduction.Iam interested in coffee plantation on my land in hamirpur.please make it a point &guide . 9868742494

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