Holds meeting with coffee growers, roasters, exporters and other stakeholders at Coffee Board Head Office, Bengaluru
The Minister for Commerce & Industry recently held a detailed interaction with coffee growers, roasters, exporters and other stakeholders at Coffee Board Head Office, Bengaluru. A decision was taken to completely relook at the provisions of the Coffee Act was enacted in 1942 and to remove the provisions which are restrictive and regulatory in nature so as to bring out a simple act that suits the present needs of the coffee sector and facilitates its growth.
The coffee growers expressed concerns about losing their lands in view of the notices issued by the banks under the SARFAESI Act. Goyal assured the grower fraternity that the issue will be favourably discussed with other related ministries and a suitable solution would be found at an early date.
Several exporters have raised concern that due to the increase in international freight rates, the Indian agri-exports to several destinations have become un-competitive. The minister assured the exporters that a special package to assist agri-exports at least for one year will be considered under TMA Scheme to tide over the present crisis.
Goyal after understanding the seriousness of the damage caused by White Stem Borer pest in coffee, from the coffee growers and also considering the fact that the Research Wing under the Coffee Board has limited resources, assured the growers that a request will be made to the Agriculture Department and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to initiate advanced research on Coffee White Stem Borer.
In the meeting, the Chairman Coffee Board requested the Minister to announce a restructuring of all existing loans into a single term loan with a long repayment period and also extend fresh working capital with soft interest. The minister expressed his solidarity with the coffee growers in this period of distress and assured to work out a feasible package in discussion with the concerned ministries.
The minister has directed Coffee Board to develop a dashboard for real-time updation of extension activities including field visits, workshops, demonstrations, seminars etc. to be undertaken by the extension personnel in the farmers’ fields and to effectively monitor the same. In the meeting, the minister emphatically dispelled the apprehensions of the stakeholders and assured them that the Government of India do not have any intention to close the Coffee Board. However, in order to provide better services to the coffee growers especially small growers, it is proposed to shift the Coffee Board from the Ministry of Commerce to the Ministry of Agriculture. This will ensure that the benefits of all the schemes of agriculture are extended to the coffee growers.
