Bengaluru, Sep 18 (UNI) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal Saturday assured stakeholders of the coffee industry that the central government does not have any intention of closing down the Coffee Board.
However, in order to provide better services to coffee growers, especially small growers, it is proposed to shift the Coffee Board from the Ministry of Commerce to the Ministry of Agriculture, he said.
"This will help extend the benefits of all agri schemes to coffee growers," he added.
The minister said this while holding a detailed interaction with coffee growers, roasters, exporters and other stakeholders here.
The meeting decided to completely relook at the provisions of the 1942 Coffee Act and to remove the provisions which are restrictive and regulatory in nature so as to bring out a simple law that is suitable to the present needs of the coffee sector and facilitates it’s growth.
The minister assured the growers that he would take up their concerns of losing their lands under SARFAESI Act with other related ministries and a suitable solution would be found at an early date.
Goyal assured the exporters that a special package to assist agri-exports for at least for one year will be considered under the TMA Scheme to tide over the present crisis.
Several exporters raised concern that due to increase in international freight rates, the Indian agri-exports to several destinations have become un-competitive.
"If the government does not hand hold the agri-exporters with increased assistance under Transport and Marketing Assistance Scheme (TMA), India may lose many markets for agri exports forever to other competitors," the exporters said.
Goyal 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.
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.
In the meeting, the Chairman of Coffee Board requested Goyal to announce restructuring of all existing loans into a single term loan with long repayment period and also extend fresh working capital with soft interest.
The minister directed the 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.
UNI BDN ACL2121