JOIN USCentre okays Rs 241.33 cr spl package for coffee
Central Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has announced the package on Thursday in New Delhi, said Coffee Board Member Thara Ayyappa. She said that the package will come as a boon for small growers who have land holding less than 25 acres.
Earlier addressing a news conference on Thursday on the same lines, Coffee Board former Vice-President Dr Sunnavanda Kaveriappa said that the release of the package was delayed due to the hullabaloo of women’s reservation bill.
However, a Secretaries’ Meet was held and it is said that Rs 504 cr package has been released. The proposal is in front of the central government and hence it is expected to be sanctioned soon.
“Since last one and half year, coffee growers have been waiting for the package. Kodagu bundh was observed on November 16 and on January 26 a protest was staged near Gandhi’s statue to bring the issue to the notice of the central government. Since rich coffee growers tried to influence the central government on including the loan waiver into the same package, the release of the package was delayed,” he said and added that as per the information available, the loan waiver has not been included in this package.
He said that commercial banks have been issuing notice to the coffee growers who have taken loan from them. Hence, the problems of the growers was brought to the notice of the Central Ministry for Commerce and Industries by the Board. He said that the Ministry had responded positively to the plea of the Board and promised to do the needful at the earliest.
He said that Kodagu growers’ Federation President Kattimandaiah has been making attempts to break the federation by creating drift between the members. “Kattimandaiah is just a puppet in hands of Kodagu Growers’ Association. If he is not interested to work for the Federation, he can form his own organisation,” Kaveriappa said.
Association Official Madhu Boppanna, B Dinesh and others were present.