New brew for coffee quaffers
Small farmers could get crop loan up to Rs 3 lakh at two per cent interest, while for large growers it could be four per cent.
By TNN |
MYSORE: The crisis-ridden coffee industry is on the path of recovery. That’s the assessment of the industry by the Union minister of state for commerce Jairam Ramesh, who on Saturday, said the interest rate on crop loan for coffee growers may be reduced. Small farmers could get crop loan up to Rs 3 lakh at two per cent interest, while for large growers it could be four per cent.
After touring coffee belts in Chikamagalur, Hassan and Kodagu districts, the minister now wants to take forward the initiative and exploring a tie-up with CFTRI for technological assistance.
His ministry wants to boost the domestic consumption of coffee and is also toying with the idea of releasing a new variety coffee by the year-end.
He asked CFTRI to assist the Coffee Board in field trials of the new variety that has zero caffeine level and to map the coffee genome,which could assist the Central Coffee Research Institute at Balehonnur in Chikamagalur district, to develop new varieties.
His brief to scientists at the coffee research institute is to release new varieties once in five years. The last time when the new variety was released was 21 years ago.
The relief package for coffee growers is in the final stages,while interest rate on crop loan will be reduced. The upper ceiling on loan is Rs 3 lakh, he told reporters.
Asked about his assessment, after his three-day tour of three districts, Jairam said, the coffee industry is on path to recovery.
During 2006-07, our exports touched $450 million. This is one of important priority industry for the government now. The others in the list are tea, rubber, pepper, cardamom, cashew and coconut.
Earlier, going round the facility, the minister seemed impressed by its infrastructure. During his interaction, he announced a mint park for value addition in Uttar Pradesh and a 100-acre plant to process chillies at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh.
After touring coffee belts in Chikamagalur, Hassan and Kodagu districts, the minister now wants to take forward the initiative and exploring a tie-up with CFTRI for technological assistance.
His ministry wants to boost the domestic consumption of coffee and is also toying with the idea of releasing a new variety coffee by the year-end.
He asked CFTRI to assist the Coffee Board in field trials of the new variety that has zero caffeine level and to map the coffee genome,which could assist the Central Coffee Research Institute at Balehonnur in Chikamagalur district, to develop new varieties.
His brief to scientists at the coffee research institute is to release new varieties once in five years. The last time when the new variety was released was 21 years ago.
The relief package for coffee growers is in the final stages,while interest rate on crop loan will be reduced. The upper ceiling on loan is Rs 3 lakh, he told reporters.
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Asked about his assessment, after his three-day tour of three districts, Jairam said, the coffee industry is on path to recovery.
During 2006-07, our exports touched $450 million. This is one of important priority industry for the government now. The others in the list are tea, rubber, pepper, cardamom, cashew and coconut.
Earlier, going round the facility, the minister seemed impressed by its infrastructure. During his interaction, he announced a mint park for value addition in Uttar Pradesh and a 100-acre plant to process chillies at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh.
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