Govt examining debt waiver for coffee growers: Scindia

The government said today it is examining a proposal to implement a debt-relief package for growers to revive the coffee industry.

"Coffee Growers' Associations have represented to evolve a debt relief package to tide over the debt crisis. The demands of coffee growers are being examined by the government," Minister of State for Commerce Jyotiraditya M Scindia said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

However, it is premature to indicate any time-frame for implementation of the package, he added.      

"Adverse weather conditions, ravages of pests and diseases, old plantations and debt burden accumulated during the crisis period (2000-04) are the problems faced by coffee growers," Scindia shared.      

Coffee growers in the country are affected due to low domestic production and there is no decline in demand in the global market, he said.      

As per the data submitted in Parliament, India's production has remained lower at 262,000 tonnes in the last two years, compared with 288,000 tonnes in 2006-07.      

Coffee production in 2009-10 is pegged at 306,000 tonnes based on post blossom estimates. So far, the country has exportd 50,305 tonnes of coffee, it shared.