Coffee the ecological crop may flourish in the forest predominant state Tripura

          In the earlier post titled’ Coffee cultivation in Jampui hill”, some prevailing conditions in the state of Tripura had been elaborated.

          Now, let us see the crop in the perspective of total forest coverage of the state and its suitability in the forest ecosystem.

         In the economic census-2006-2007 of Tripura, it was indicated that in Tripura more than 60(sixty) per cent of the total geographical area is under forest. Now, like elsewhere, the objective of the forest department is preserving, conserving and expanding the forest coverage in the state.

         Of course, how we fair in the aforementioned objectives are another aspects which I’m not going to elaborate here.

         My objective of the post is; there are certain crops which could be grown without much disturbing the forest ecosystem. Economically speaking, coffee is one such crop which is considered “ecological crop” because or otherwise, if coffee is to come up in particular area; forestry should precede the activity of coffee cultivation.

         That means, forest species should be in place of the designated place for coffee plantation; when forest and coffee can co-exist, there will be minimum ecological imbalance for growing coffee cultivation in any place either forest land or fallow land.

         Now coming to Tripura perspective, it is as already indicated above, Tripura is the forest predominant state and forestry is one such area that is inevitable for all places whereas, earning few extra pies without disturbing the ecological balance of the forest would be highly appreciated and acceptable by the people of the state.

           In the present perspective, coffee cultivation is concentrated in the Jampui hill area of the state however; this can also be introduced in many more areas of the state because of physio-climatic condition of the state. The physio-climatic condition of the state is suitable for the coffee growth so is coffee cultivation in the state. Another aspect, being the hilly state; maximum hills are above 300 meter mean sea level, which is favorable for coffee cultivation in any place.

          The climate of the state is subtropical with few pocketed temperate region which otherwise could sustain the coffee cultivation in the state.

           But, it is not being happening till date due to several factors which are acting otherwise distracting the popularity and increase of coffee cultivation in the state.

Diversification of farm is one of the important criteria for increasing the farm income of a farmer, therefore in the pursuit to increase the farm income; state government may pursue the coffee cultivation in the state with twin objectives; 

         one, maintaining ecological balance and 

         second, earning some extra income through coffee cultivation from the potential areas of the state. However, these objectives will be fulfilled once the following conditions are ensured

         • Like rubber, state government may come forward with specific objective for coffee fraternity.

         • A nodal department of the state government may be formed to look after the coffee scheme apart from Coffee Board, India.

        The time has come to take proactive step to explore the every explorable areas of the state for better resource utilization and benefit of the people in economic prosperity. The people of Jampui Hill have already seen the success and profit by producing coffee from their plantation and this should be the case of success story in the state.

    Agritangkol dated 02.02.2012 at 6.30 P.M