Chhattisgarh's Abujhmad eyes greener future with coffee cultivation

Chhattisgarh's remote forest region of Abujhmad, long known for its dense forests, geographical isolation and decades of Left Wing Extremism, is being explored as a potential hub for sustainable coffee cultivation under a new livelihood initiative of the state government.As part of the Vishnu Deo Sai government's efforts to expand livelihood opportunities in tribal areas, the Narayanpur district administration has begun preparations to introduce coffee cultivation in selected forest villages of Abujhmad,according to media reports. The initiative aims to generate long-term employment while promoting environmentally sustainable agriculture.
To assess the feasibility of the project, Narayanpur Collector Namrata Jain, along with experts from the Coffee Board of India, recently visited villages including Kutul, Kachchapal, Kodliyar, Irakbhatti and Toke.The expert team conducted field-level assessments of the region's climate, annual rainfall, temperature, soil characteristics and elevation. According to the district administration, the Coffee Board found Abujhmad's natural conditions suitable for developing a coffee-based agroforestry model.The Coffee Board of India will provide technical support for site selection, nursery development, plantation management, farmer training and other aspects of the project as it progresses in phases. The initial stage will focus on identifying suitable land and setting up nurseries before plantations are established.
Located in the Bastar region, Abujhmad is one of India's richest forest landscapes and is home to diverse tribal communities. Its extensive forest cover, favourable agro-climatic conditions and varied topography have long attracted scientific interest.A technical bulletin titled "Coffee in Chhattisgarh", published by the College of Horticulture and Research Station, Jagdalpur, under Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), identifies Bastar as a promising organic coffee-growing region. Based on cultivation experiments conducted at Darbha, the study states that the region's rainfall, elevation, fertile forest soils and natural shade closely resemble the conditions required for successful coffee cultivation under a two-tier forest canopy.
The study says coffee-based agroforestry can help conserve soil, reduce erosion, support biodiversity and promote sustainable farming through traditional organic practices.
Meanwhile,the district administration expects the project to generate long-term income and employment for local communities through coffee cultivation and allied activities. Commercial production is expected to begin about four years after plantation."Our objective is to build development around Abujhmad's natural strengths and rich forest landscape. Coffee has the potential to become a sustainable livelihood option for local communities, and we are adopting a scientific, phased approach to ensure the initiative grows in harmony with the region's ecology and people. With technical guidance from the Coffee Board of India, we hope to open up a new avenue of employment that enables local communities to benefit from their natural resources while preserving the forest ecosystem," Collector Namrata Jain said.
District agriculture officials will be trained at the Coffee Board's regional centre in Koraput, Odisha, before the project is rolled out. The administration is also exploring tea cultivation in suitable parts of Abujhmad.Though still in the assessment stage, the initiative aims to create sustainable livelihoods while conserving Abujhmad's forest ecosystem.