JEYPORE: Koraput has vast potential for coffee and government agencies must make efforts to attract more coffee-growers to expand its cultivation for socio-economic development of the district, said Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Monday.
The Governor, who is on a four-day visit to Koraput and Malkangiri districts, visited the Coffee Board at Koraput and interacted with coffee growers, officials of district administration and the board.
Speaking on the occasion, Kambhampati emphasised bringing more areas under cultivation of coffee in Koraput by encouraging local as well as outside growers. He asked the officials to prepare a map of available potential coffee cultivation areas in the district with land related information which would be beneficial for interested growers.
“The district has vast areas suitable for growing coffee but less has been utilised. The government agencies should take initiative by encouraging people to cultivate through regular awareness programmes,” he said.
He also suggested officials and coffee growers to tag coffee plantations with tourism prospective for development of the tribal areas.
On the day, the governor visited coffee plantations under Coffee Board, took views on different varieties of coffee and processing methods.
Koraput MLA Raghuram Machha, Kotpad MLA Rupu Bhatra and Koraput collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan were present.
Later, the Governor held meeting with officials of SLN Medical College and Hospital and NALCO. He also visited the Jagannath temple at Sabar Srikshetra and offered prayers in the evening. Earlier, he was given a warm reception at Jeypore air-strip.