Working group recommends Weather Insurance scheme for Coffee growers

Bangalore, Nov 7 (UNI) The first meeting of the Sub-group on Plantation sector has recommended to the centre to introduce a Weather Insurance Scheme to protect the coffee growers from the vagaries of adverse weather.

The group, headed by Coffee Board Chairman, in its interim report dealt in detail about the plight of Coffee growers across the country, also suggested comprehensive replanting programme with appropriate financial incentives to convert senile Coffee blocks to improve productivity.

The sub group, headed by Coffee Board Chairman G V Krishna Rau, recently submitted the report to the working group on Horticulture, Plantation Crops and Organic farming for formulation of 11th five year plan constituted by the Planning Commission.

Some of the focus areas identified for the orderly growth and sustenance of the Indian Coffee Industry, among others, were extending a suitable interest subsidy scheme on working capital loans to growers during the Eleventh Plan, special incentives to tribal sector for Coffee development activities massive thrust to enhance domestic coffee consumption and Research and Development technologies for farmer centric sustainable coffee production.

These aspects were revealed at the Coffee Conference organised today by the United Planters Association of South India (UPASI) by the Board Chairman, whose speech was delivered in absentia by the board's Secretary J N Raj.

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