Coffee Board
since 1970 is engaged in the development of coffee in North Eastern Region
(NER) with a view to providing sustainable income to tribal growers and to wean
away the tribal inhabitants from ‘Jhum’ cultivation.
Since XI plan period Coffee Board has been implementing a comprehensive Coffee
Development Programme covering the seven North
Eastern States viz., Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram,
Nagaland and Tripura. The scheme comprises support for Coffee Expansion,
Consolidation of Existing Holdings, Quality Up gradation, Marketing
of coffee, Raising of Group Nurseries. Besides these the Board through its
Research & Extension set up in the NE states, has been providing support in
terms of research, transfer of technology and capacity building to coffee
growers. Recently, the Board has strengthened its extension manpower in the NE
Region by filling up of regular posts for an effective implementation of the
coffee development programme.
The details of
total funds allocated, released and utilized during the last three years are as
follows:
(in Rs. crore)
|
Year
|
Allocated
|
Released
|
Utilized
|
|
2009-10
|
4.00
|
1.95
|
4.75*
|
|
2010-11
|
4.00
|
4.00
|
4.87*
|
|
2011-12
|
5.50
|
5.50
|
5.31
|
* Includes opening balance
The total
financial allocation for Coffee Development in NE Region for the current
financial year (2012-13) is Rs.5.50 Crore out of
which 5.37 Crore has been utilized as on Feb 2013.
There has been
a gradual increase in the production of coffee in NE Region. The production of coffee in NE Region increased from 143.20 MT
in 2009-10 to 220.00 MT in 2011-12.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the
Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Dr. D Purandeswari
in a written reply in the Lok Sabha
today.
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DS/RK