Jagdalpur 24 July 2020. Bastar district is now developing into a coffee and turmeric production center between the natural resources as well as the major tourist destinations. Due to the eco-friendlyness of the district, coffee is being promoted in the Darbha and Delmili areas and turmeric production in Bastanar region is being promoted by the district administration. These products have been named Bastar Coffee and Bastar Turmeric. Which will soon be available in the market. The effort of the administration is to financially empower the farmers of the district by linking them with paddy cultivation as well as coffee and turmeric.
Due to the weather and geographical conditions of Bastar, coffee plantation was done on an area of about 20 acres in 2017 on Koleng Marg near Darbha of the district under the guidance of the district administration. Coffee production was promoted under the guidance of the experts of the Horticulture University of Agriculture. Dr. K.P., Professor and Research Officer, Horticulture, Agricultural University, Kumharwand, who oversees this entire project. Singh said that two species of Arabica and Rubasta coffee have been planted in Bastar. The quality of coffee in Bastar is similar to the coffee produced in Orissa and Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh. He said that production of coffee seeds from Arabica species has started, while Rubasta will start production from next year. He informed that the seed obtained from Arabica species has been processed in Koraput, Odisha. Dr. Singh said that coffee production will be sold in two ways. One will be filter coffee, which is better in taste, the other will be green coffee.
Dean of Horticulture College, Dr. HC Nanda said that a plant of coffee grows completely in four to five years. Once planted, it gives seeds for 50 to 60 years. Approximately two and a half to three quintals of coffee seed are produced in an acre. He told that there is a good potential for coffee cultivation here. Local farmers are also being added to give it a commercial appearance. Farmers can earn 50 thousand to 80 thousand per acre of income from coffee cultivation every year. Along with this, inter-cropping pulses-oilseeds will also be encouraged. The main purpose of taking these crops can be grown very well on less fertile land, less manure and water. Coffee production will provide a green environment in the environment as well as income for the villagers.
In the Bastanar area of Bastar, turmeric produced in the region is found to have a high amount of anti-cancer element carcumon. This product by the name of Bastar Turmeric will soon be available for sale in the markets. On July 21, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel released both products through video conferencing. The Chief Minister directed the district administration that better marketing of Bastar coffee and Bastar turmeric should be done.
