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This scheme from the Coffee Board helps coffee growers in traditional areas boost their production by providing Read More... financial aid for water management systems and irrigation. Read less

Details

Coffee farming in India's traditional belts is set to get a significant boost with the 'Development Support for Coffee in Traditional Areas: Water Augmentation' scheme. Rolled out by the Coffee Board under the Department of Commerce, this initiative is designed to enhance coffee production and quality by ensuring adequate water availability.

What Is This Scheme?

Essentially, this is a financial assistance program focused on helping coffee growers in established coffee-growing regions to improve their water resources. It supports the installation of water harvesting structures like tanks and wells, as well as the setup of modern irrigation systems such as sprinklers and drip irrigation. This aims to tackle water scarcity issues that often impact coffee yields.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

The scheme is open to individual coffee growers, families who co-own land, or even joint applications from close family members (mother, father, wife, and children). It's designed for those with land holdings of up to 10 hectares. Even non-tribal growers in non-traditional areas can apply if they meet the land holding criteria.

Why This Scheme Is Important

Consistent water supply is crucial for healthy coffee plants and better yields. By supporting water augmentation, this scheme helps growers manage water effectively, especially during dry spells. This leads to improved crop quality, increased productivity, and ultimately, better livelihoods for the farming community. It also encourages the adoption of efficient irrigation technologies.

Objective

This scheme from the Coffee Board helps coffee growers in traditional areas boost their production by providing financial aid for water management systems and irrigation.

Benefits

Date of Commencement of Project & its Duration

The duration of the project is of three (3) years and is specified in the sanction order.

The project starting date will be effective from the date on which the candidate joins the Institution but within 45 days from the date of issuance of the sanction order. The date of receipt of the grant should be intimated by the Institution authorities/Mentor and Nodal officer to this Department. It will, in no case be later than 15 days after the receipt of the grant by the Institute.

The successful candidates have to join their host institution within 45 days from the date of issuance of the sanction order, or else it would be withdrawn.

Project Cost & Fellowship to Project InvestigatorProject Cost & Fellowship: Based on the applicant's qualifying degree, the budget support is provided in the following two categories:Category:Category-IQualifying Degree:Ph.D. in any discipline of Life Sciences or allied areas or interdisciplinary sciences /MD/MDS/M.V.Sc.Research Grant:Restricted up to ₹ 60,00,000 (includes consolidated Fellowship of ₹ 68,000/month).Category:Category-IIQualifying Degree:M.Tech. in Biotechnology or allied areas / MPharma/ equivalent degree.Research Grant:Restricted up to ₹ 40,00,000 (Includes consolidated Fellowship of ₹ 50,000/month).

Sources and references

Guidelines

Who Can Apply?

Individual and Family Applications: The scheme is open to individual coffee growers, those who own land jointly, or close family members (mother, father, wife, children) applying together.
Land Holding Size: Eligible applicants can own coffee plantations up to a maximum of 10 hectares.
Purpose of Subsidy: You can apply for subsidies for building water harvesting structures like storage tanks, open wells, or ring wells. You can also apply for irrigation equipment such as sprinkler or drip systems.
Combining Activities: You can combine one type of water harvesting structure with one type of irrigation equipment to avail the subsidy during the current Medium Term Framework (MTF) period.
Past Beneficiaries: If you have received a subsidy for a specific water augmentation activity in the last 10 years, you are not eligible to apply for the same activity again until the 11th year.
Location of Infrastructure: The water augmentation infrastructure must be developed either within your coffee estate or nearby, depending on where the water source is located. The land must be registered in your name or your eligible family members' names.
Non-Traditional Areas: Non-tribal coffee growers in Non-Traditional Areas with land holdings up to 10 hectares are also eligible.

How to Get the Subsidy

Get the Technical Feasibility Report: Before starting any work, you must obtain the Technical Feasibility Report (TFR).
Submit Application and Documents: Prepare and submit your application along with all required documents to the relevant jurisdictional Coffee Board office. Make sure to fill out the application form and self-declaration in duplicate as per the prescribed format.
Quotations and Estimates: For equipment, you'll need a quotation. For tanks or wells, a self-prepared plan and estimation are required.
Claiming the Subsidy: After completing the work and purchasing the equipment, submit your claim statements, original bills/invoices, and a work completion report to the Coffee Board office.
Verification and Sanction: The Coffee Board will verify your documents and, if everything is in order, the Deputy Director (Extension) will sanction and release the subsidy amount to your bank account.

Important Note: Always refer to the official Coffee Board website for the latest application formats and specific submission details. The application can usually be submitted to the Deputy Director (Extension) of the Coffee Board.

Documents You'll Need

To apply for this scheme and claim your subsidy, you'll generally need the following documents:

For the Feasibility Report & Initial Application:

Application and Self Declaration form, filled and signed (in duplicate). You can find this in the prescribed format.
Aadhaar Card (UIDAI).
Proof of Land Ownership: This could be your Patta (Record of Rights) / Khatha Extract with RTC in Karnataka, Land Possession Certificate with RTCs in Kodagu, Chitta & Adangal or Land Possession Certificate with Adangal in Tamil Nadu, or Land Possession Certificate from the Revenue Authority in Kerala. If it's joint ownership, you need revenue records showing your exclusive coffee holding.
A hand-drawn sketch of your estate showing boundaries and the exact location for the proposed activity.
Quotation from the supplier if you are buying machinery or equipment.
Your own plan and cost estimate for building water storage tanks, open wells, or ring wells.
If you are applying through a General Power of Attorney (GPA), an attested copy of the registered GPA is needed.
If you belong to the SC/ST category, your Caste Certificate issued by the competent authority.
A copy of your Bank Pass Book showing your account number, bank name, branch, and IFSC code. It's best if this account is Aadhaar-seeded.

For Claiming the Subsidy:

Claim Statements in the prescribed format (in duplicate).
Original Invoice or Bill with TIN for the purchase of irrigation equipment.
A self-prepared report on the work done and a certificate for fund utilization, signed by you.

FAQ’s

How deep should an open or ring well be for this scheme?

The recommended depth for an open well or a ring well, whether it has a pump or not, is 30 feet.

What is the cost mentioned for digging an open/ring well?

The unit cost that the subsidy is based on for open and ring wells is ₹75,000 per unit.

Can I build a water storage tank of any size I need?

Yes, you are free to build water storage structures of dimensions that suit your needs. The subsidy amount will be calculated based on either the official unit cost for your holding size or the actual cost incurred, whichever is less.

What are the unit costs for sprinkler or drip irrigation equipment based on farm size?

The unit costs vary depending on the size of your coffee holding. For holdings up to 1 hectare, it's ₹60,000, and for holdings up to 10 hectares, it's ₹580,000. Subsidies are calculated based on these figures.

How does the government send the subsidy money to me?

The subsidy is directly transferred to your bank account. The Deputy Director (Extension) will process this using Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), or National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT).

Is there any special help for Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe farmers?

Yes, coffee growers from SC/ST communities who own coffee land up to 4 hectares can get an extra 10% subsidy. This additional subsidy is also capped at ₹2,50,000 per person, covering all components of the water augmentation scheme.

What is the subsidy amount for water storage tanks for different farm sizes?

The subsidy for water storage tanks is 40% of the unit cost. For instance, for holdings up to 1 hectare, the subsidy is ₹17,200, and for holdings up to 10 hectares, it's ₹178,800. The maximum subsidy for any beneficiary is ₹2,50,000.

What paperwork do I need to submit to get the initial report (Feasibility Report)?

You'll need to submit a filled application form, Aadhaar card, proof of land ownership, a sketch of your estate, quotations for equipment, cost estimates for tanks/wells, a GPA copy if applicable, SC/ST certificate if relevant, and your bank passbook copy.

What is the process to claim the subsidy after the work is done?

After completing the work or purchasing equipment, you need to submit claim statements, original bills/invoices for equipment, and a report on how the funds were used. These documents will be checked by the Coffee Board before subsidy release.

What should I do before I start any work for this scheme?

You must obtain the Technical Feasibility Report (TFR) first. This report confirms that your proposed activity is viable and aligns with the scheme's objectives before you begin any construction or purchase.

Can coffee growers in areas where coffee is not traditionally grown also get this subsidy?

Yes, non-tribal coffee growers who have land holdings of up to 10 hectares in Non-Traditional Areas are also eligible to apply for this subsidy.

Where exactly should I build the water infrastructure?

The water augmentation infrastructure should be established either within your coffee estate itself or in its immediate vicinity, depending on the location of your water source. The land for this purpose must be registered in the name of the grower or their eligible family members.

If I've received subsidy before for water augmentation, when can I apply again for the same thing?

If you have benefited from a subsidy for a particular water augmentation activity within the last 10 years, you can apply again for the same activity starting from the 11th year onwards.

Can I get subsidies for both a water storage tank and a sprinkler system together?

Yes, during the MTF period, you can combine a subsidy for one type of water harvesting structure (like a tank or well) with a subsidy for one type of irrigation equipment (like a sprinkler or drip system).

Can I apply for the same subsidy activity twice during the MTF period?

No, once you have received a subsidy for a specific activity or component, you cannot apply for it again during the same Medium Term Framework (MTF) period, unless there are provisions for including new beneficiaries.

What exactly does the subsidy cover?

The subsidy is applicable for two main things: water harvesting structures (such as water storage tanks, open wells, or ring wells) and the purchase of irrigation equipment, including sprinkler or drip systems.

Who is generally eligible to apply for this scheme?

Eligibility extends to individual coffee growers, those with joint land ownership, or family members applying together (mother, father, wife, children). You must also have coffee holdings of up to 10 hectares.