Rs 750 cr earmarked for coffee

The coffee sector is to get Rs 750 crore in the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012), more than two times more than the previous plan outlay (Rs 350 crore).

"The main thrust of the 11th plan would be on replantation to boost productivity, develop new coffee species, drive domestic consumption, and concentrate on exports of value-added coffees," said Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh in his keynote address to the 49th annual conference of the Karnataka Planters' Association (KPA).

The 11th Five Year Plan has been approved by the Planning Commission but has to be ratified by the National Development Council (NDC) which is meeting in New Delhi on November 8. "Once NDC approves the plan, the Coffee Board will be the nodal agency to implement all the proposals," he added.

To boost productivity, replantation in coffee growing regions to the extent of 70,000-80,000 hectares has been proposed. "This is being done keeping in mind significant difference it makes to productivity and competitiveness in exports," said Ramesh.

The plan is also to give thrust to new varieties of coffee. According to Ramesh, it is almost 21 years since the last variety was developed.

"A new variety is slated to be released in December. Sequencing of coffee genome has also been taken up to help understand changing climatic conditions and disease tolerance," he added.

Due to shortage of plantation labour and rising input costs, the 11th plan has also given priority to mechanisation. "An MoU has been signed with IIT Kharagpur to develop cost-effective and affordable farm machinery for small growers. Mechanisation is targeted at pruning, weeding, picking and operations," he added.

The 11th Five Year Plan will also address the expansion of coffee growing to non-traditional areas such as naxal-infested areas in Andhra Pradesh, and north eastern states like Mizoram and Nagaland.

Ramesh cited the example of how 60,000 tribals of Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh are involved in growing 4,000 tonnes of organic coffee.

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IN THE OFFING

11th Plan to boost productivity, develop new coffee species, drive domestic consumption, and concentrate on exports of value-added coffees

To boost productivity, replantation in coffee growing regions to the extent of 70,000-80,000 hectares has been proposed

Due to shortage of plantation labour and rising input costs, the 11th Plan has also given priority to mechanisation

Plan to expand coffee growing to non-traditional areas such as naxal-infested areas in Andhra Pradesh, and north eastern states like Mizoram and Nagaland