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What does Coffee mean for You(th)?

Coffee for youth in Samtse means a serious business. This was evident atleast from questions they showered, one after another to the stakeholders during their interaction session. Led by Hon’ble Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, the stakeholders present during the launch of coffee plantation took time to interact with the students of Peljorling Middle Secondary School, Sipsoo in Samtse.

“Why are we planting coffee?”

The students proved knowledgeable when they responded brilliantly to the first question asked, “Why are we planting coffee?” They said, coffee plantation will help develop and keep our country green. All thanks to the public-private partnership commercial coffee project which is in full swing in the locality. Youths in Samtse seems pro-coffee.

Having broken the ice, the students took no time to stand up in droves to raise range of questions pertaining to coffee. They wanted to know every bit and detail of coffee in addition to what they already know. Are they really interested in Coffee?

"Are they really interested in Coffee?

Dawa Dem, an eighth standard student sought clarification on whether coffee is harmful if taken in excess. “Excess of everything is good for nothing.” she sat down convinced. But another student in sky-blue surrogated her to ask where in the world are coffee grown who was again joined by another boy sitting in extreme corner who wanted to know about the types of soil and land topography conducive for coffee thriving. These students will make fine coffee farmer. Will they?

Some went on to ask technical questions such as what is favourable temperatures for coffee growth and how long does a coffee plant survive? For next few minutes the students took turn to stand up to throw as many questions as possible with some asking as many as three. The relevant stakeholders dutifully clarified each of the queries to their satisfaction. What more does it take to see coffee farmer in the making?

What more does it take to see coffee farmer in the making?

At the end, when asked, “How many of you’d return after completion of your schooling to become educated coffee farmers?” five from some odd sixty or more students reluctantly and half-heartedly raised the hands.

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