, Tripura and Sikkim. The total geographical area of the region is about 26 million hectare with a population of 39.04 million (2011 census) representing 8 and 3.8 percent of the total area and population of the country, respectively. About 70% of the geographical area of NER is hilly and mountainous. The mean annual rainfall received is around 2000 mm. Agricultural production system is mostly rain fed, mono-cropped and at subsistence level.

Use of local varieties, low consumption of chemicals, low moisture retention capacity of upland soil, no drainage in valley land during monsoon and lack of irrigation facilities during winter months, low temperature, low sunshine hours along with traditional management practices have resulted into low productivity of crops and low cropping intensity in the region. Problems of high rainfall, soil acidity (pH 4.5 to 6.5), aluminium toxicity in upland and iron toxicity in valley land have added to the problem of low agricultural productivity in the region.

Coffee in India is grown in one of the 25 bio-diversity hot spots of the world flanked by variety of flora and fauna. Shade grown Indian coffee forests are recognized world over as one of the most diverse forests on planet earth. As coffee in India is grown under the canopy of thick natural shade, it contributes significantly to sustain the unique bio-diversity of the region and is also responsible for socio economic development in the remote hilly areas of India. Shade trees create a micro-climate for coffee bushes and protect the plants from microclimate variability from the effects of lower precipitation and reduced soil water availability, and reduce high solar radiation, hence buffering detrimental diurnal changes in air temperature and humidity.

Coffee Agro forestry reduces the pressure on natural forests as it sustains livelihood of half a million workers and their families in otherwise resource scarce regions. Also it has other positive effects on the crop like improved soil fertility, protection from insect pests and economic benefits for farmers.

Considering this, coffee cultivation was introduced in the North East Region with an aim for socio- economic upliftment of the local people as well as for preservation of the fragile ecosystem.

Coffee is grown in all the states of North East Region except Sikkim. The present area under coffee in NER is 6330 ha involving more than 8000 small tribal holdings.

There is good potential for production of organic coffee in the North East Region. Firstly, majority of the tribal coffee holdings are organic by default. The coffee growers of the region have apathy towards use of chemical fertilizers and plant protection chemicals. As a result, the yields are low and are only at subsistence level. Thus there is a good scope for converting the coffee holdings into organic without much change in the existing cultivation practices.

All the households in the region are maintaining livestock (pig, poultry, cattle, goats etc.) producing sufficient quantity of on farm manures which could be efficiently used for organic coffee production.

The region receives very high rainfall (2000 mm to 11000 mm per annum) leading to profuse production of biomass including weeds, shrubs and herbs. Some of these plant species could be efficiently used as organic manures and botanicals for organic coffee production.

The most added advantage is that the native organic carbon content of the soil in the North East region is very high (1.5- 4%), and so management of organic matter in the soil under organic production system would not be a problem.

The NE Region has potential for the production of eco-friendly / sustainable coffee beans which can be certified as per organic standards. During the XII plan the Board has proposed to provide support to Self Help Groups, Growers Collectives/ groups for production of organic coffees by providing them with technical knowhow and training support as well as financial support @ 75% for installation of vermicompost units, supply of bio-fertilizers and towards meeting the costs of certification.