Koraput |10th Sept 2025: During his visit to Koraput, Odisha Governor Dr. Raghubar Das Kambhampati emphasized that the district has the potential to become one of India’s leading coffee hubs, thanks to its favorable climate and vast cultivable land.
At a meeting held at the Koraput Coffee Board, the Governor stated that if land ownership records are clearly mapped, more farmers from across the region will show interest in coffee cultivation. He instructed the district administration to identify suitable areas and prepare a detailed land-use map to expand coffee plantations.
Key Highlights of the Governor’s Visit:
- Reception at Jeypore Airport: The Governor was welcomed by District Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan, SP Rohit Verma, and other senior officials.
- Visit to Koraput Coffee Board:
- Interacted with tribal coffee farmers, private cultivators, Coffee Board members, and district officers.
- Tasted Koraput coffee and observed plantations first-hand.
- Appreciated how 90% of the district is engaged in coffee cultivation, helping tribal farmers become self-reliant.
- Received a memorandum from the Odisha Coffee Producers’ Association.
Discussion Points:
- Promotion of coffee and spice plantations in tribal and hilly areas.
- Implementation of state-level area development schemes under the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department.
Demand to:
- Increase state subsidy for coffee tourism projects to 50%.
- Provide 99-year land leases to entrepreneurs and investors.
- Strengthen collaborative extension services, market linkage, and infrastructure through partnerships with Coffee Board and other agencies.
Other Engagements:
- Visited the NALCO office, discussed regional development linked to mining areas.
- Held a meeting with officials of SLN Medical College regarding healthcare services and infrastructure. Emphasized the need to enhance medical facilities in the undivided Koraput region.
- Met with representatives like Padma Shri Gobardhan Panika, Siran Harshita Priyadarshini, Red Cross officials, and others.
- Visited the Shabar Shreekhetra temple in the evening and participated in rituals and sightseeing.
Note:
The Governor is on a four-day visit to Koraput and Malkangiri districts as part of his broader outreach to tribal and remote regions.