Lok Sabha Question No. 2099 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-24
Subject: Technology Initiatives for Coffee Stakeholders
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: PRATHAP SIMHA, SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2099 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  DECEMBER,2018

## TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES FOR COFFEE STAKEHOLDERS

## 2099.  SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वा ͨणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंğी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched technology initiatives for coffee stakeholders-Coffee  Connect  and  coffee  Krishi  Tharanga  recently  and  if  so,  the details thereof, including its objectives;
- (b) the  number  of  Coffee  growers  covered  and  the  funds  allocated  for  Coffee  Krishi Tharanga;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  extend  the  Integrated  Coffee  Development Project beyond 12th Plan period with higher outlay and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Coffee Board has identified technological solutions to address some of the perennial coffee production and coffee farming issues and challenges and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the details of R&D Programmes launched by the Coffee Board aimed at improved Coffee varieties especially Arabica coffee; and
- (f) the estimated total direct and indirect employment in coffee sector?

## ANSWER

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THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) Yes, Madam.  The Coffee Board has launched technology initiatives namely Coffee Connect Mobile App and Coffee Krishi Tharanga for the benefit of coffee stakeholders on 04.09.2018. The Coffee Connect Mobile App is, inter alia, aimed at improving work efficiency of field functionaries and easing the  whole  process  of  field  activities  like  digitization  of  coffee  growers,  coffee  estates, infrastructure, etc. and provide advisory services to  the coffee growers.   The objective is to bring transparency in activities of extension officers and subsidy disbursement.

The Coffee Krishi Tharanga is aimed at providing customized information and advisory services to increase productivity, profitability and environment sustainability.

- (b) Under  Coffee  Krishi  Tharanga  30,000  coffee  growers  are  being  targeted  during  the  pilot stage  (July  2018  to  February  2019).  So  far  about  10000  growers  have  been  covered  from Chikmagalur and Hassan Districts of Karnataka.

## Fund allocated for Coffee Krishi Tharanga:

| Agency / Organization contribution                              | Amount (In Rs.)   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| Precision Agriculture for Development India Foundation (PAD IF) | 35,04,384         |
| NABARD                                                          | 15,00,000         |
| Total                                                           | 50,04,384         |

In  addition,  Coffee  Board  is  providing  man  power  support,  space  for  call  centre,  computer  and internet connectivity.

- (c) The Central Government approved continuation of the XII plan scheme 'Integrated Coffee Development Project' for a further period of 3 years during the Medium Term Framework Period (2017-18 to 2019-20) with an outlay of Rs.647.46 crore.  The details of the approved outlay is given in the following Table.
- (d) It  has  been  a  continuous  endeavour  of  the  Coffee  Board  to  address  the  production  and farming issues/challenges being faced by the coffee farmers.  The Coffee Board is implementing pilot projects on Hyper Local Weather Forecast, Pest (White Stem Borer) Identification Application, Leaf Rust Disease Forecast and Block Chain Based Market Place App. In addition, the Coffee Board has launched  soil  health  cards  and  coffee  soil  health  monitoring  and  management  web  portal (KSHEMAM)  for  effective  soil  nutrient  management  at  estate  level.  A  new  stem  borer  tolerant Arabica line, S.4595 has been evolved.
- (e) Coffee Board is currently focusing on collaborative research programmes with international organizations  such  as  World  Coffee  Research  (WCR),  based  at  Texas.  Under  this  programme, International Multi Location Variety Trials (IMLVT) have been established with 30 Arabica varieties shared  by  different  collaborating  countries  including  India  for  testing  their  suitability  and  for subsequent commercial exploitation.

(Rs. in crore )

| Sl. No.   | Components                                                          |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   Total |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------|
| 1         | Research & Development and Transfer of Technology                   |      7.13 |      9.75 |      7.86 |   24.74 |
| 2         | Development Support to stakeholder                                  |     23.62 |     31.12 |     31.31 |   86.05 |
| 3         | Market Development and Export Promotion                             |     24.75 |     25.13 |     25.88 |   75.76 |
| 4         | Establishment Expenses- Salary, administrative expenditure, pension |    128.1  |    127.87 |    135.94 |  391.91 |
| 5         | Pending subsidies of previous years                                 |     69    |      0    |      0    |   69    |
|           | Grand Total                                                         |    252.6  |    193.87 |    200.99 |  647.46 |

(f) The  Coffee  sector  provides  direct  employment  in  plantations  to  6.6  lakh  workers  and indirect  employment  to  13.4  lakh  workers  in  coffee  processing  &  value  chain  and  other  allied activities.

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