<p>Under the 12th five year plan, the Central Government has agreed to grant Rs 950 crores to the Coffee Board, said the Board President Javed Akther.<br /><br /></p>.<p>He was speaking after inaugurating the 'Coffee Kshetrotsava' and seminar at the Coffee Board's technology valuation centre at Arishinaguppe in the taluk on Thursday. The 12th five year plan is yet to be formed. A proposal has been submitted to the Central Government last November with regard to the various projects planned with the funds. There are hopes that the proposal will be approved by month end, he said. Till then, the 11th five year plan will be continued. Under this scheme, the Coffee growers should make use of the benefits that has been allotted to them, he said.<br /><br />The Coffee extension division which was the main information centre to coffee growers has acute shortage of staff. The division needs to be upgraded and a proposal has been submitted to the Central Government to create a post of Director for the division. There are plans to develop this division as research and development centre, he said.<br /><br />Lack of encouragement in the internal use of coffee is the main lacunae, which needs to be filled. There is a need to chalk out a plan with this regard, he said.<br /><br />Cultivating Arabica Coffee plants has become a challenge to coffee growers due to change in climate conditions and shortage of staff. Many opt to grow Robusta plants. In case Arabica and Robusta plants are grown in equal proportions, then we can achieve a balance and come out of losses, he advised.<br /><br />The present Coffee board website does not have enough space to carry all information. A new website is being designed, he said and added that it will be made available to the public soon. The coffee growers can obtain all information from here, he said.There are plans to relaunch the publication 'Coffee book,' he said and added that a coffee digest giving information on technology, weather, marketing strategies will be published, he said.<br /><br />There are lack of scientists for the Coffee Research Board. Most of the scientists who join for research discontinue. They site less salary and difficulty in traveling as the main reasons. The Coffee Research Centre scientists should receive salary on par with the scientist of the National Agriculture Research Centre. A proposal has been sent to the Central government with this regard, he said.<br /><br />There is no permanent solution to get rid of the stem borer disease. Use of oraganic fertilisers, shade, drip irrigation system and wrapping the stem and branches with plastic can safeguard a plant, he advised.<br /><br />Coffee Grower M R Sannasiddhegowda spoke on the problems faced by the Coffee growers such as shortage of labourers, diseases that have struck the Coffee plants and drastic fall in prices. Another Grower A K Vasanthgowda expressed his displeasure on the Coffee board for not informing the growers in Hassan, Kodagu and Chikmagalur about the Coffee Kshetrotsava.<br /><br />The Coffee Board should take immediate steps in avoiding stem borer disease. The 50 per cent subsidy provided for Coffee growers should be increased to 70 per cent, he said.<br /><br />The equipment and machinery used for cultivating coffee was kept on display. A demonstration on usage of machinery, drip irrigation, steps to be taken to avoid stem borer disease was held.</p>
<p>Under the 12th five year plan, the Central Government has agreed to grant Rs 950 crores to the Coffee Board, said the Board President Javed Akther.<br /><br /></p>.<p>He was speaking after inaugurating the 'Coffee Kshetrotsava' and seminar at the Coffee Board's technology valuation centre at Arishinaguppe in the taluk on Thursday. The 12th five year plan is yet to be formed. A proposal has been submitted to the Central Government last November with regard to the various projects planned with the funds. There are hopes that the proposal will be approved by month end, he said. Till then, the 11th five year plan will be continued. Under this scheme, the Coffee growers should make use of the benefits that has been allotted to them, he said.<br /><br />The Coffee extension division which was the main information centre to coffee growers has acute shortage of staff. The division needs to be upgraded and a proposal has been submitted to the Central Government to create a post of Director for the division. There are plans to develop this division as research and development centre, he said.<br /><br />Lack of encouragement in the internal use of coffee is the main lacunae, which needs to be filled. There is a need to chalk out a plan with this regard, he said.<br /><br />Cultivating Arabica Coffee plants has become a challenge to coffee growers due to change in climate conditions and shortage of staff. Many opt to grow Robusta plants. In case Arabica and Robusta plants are grown in equal proportions, then we can achieve a balance and come out of losses, he advised.<br /><br />The present Coffee board website does not have enough space to carry all information. A new website is being designed, he said and added that it will be made available to the public soon. The coffee growers can obtain all information from here, he said.There are plans to relaunch the publication 'Coffee book,' he said and added that a coffee digest giving information on technology, weather, marketing strategies will be published, he said.<br /><br />There are lack of scientists for the Coffee Research Board. Most of the scientists who join for research discontinue. They site less salary and difficulty in traveling as the main reasons. The Coffee Research Centre scientists should receive salary on par with the scientist of the National Agriculture Research Centre. A proposal has been sent to the Central government with this regard, he said.<br /><br />There is no permanent solution to get rid of the stem borer disease. Use of oraganic fertilisers, shade, drip irrigation system and wrapping the stem and branches with plastic can safeguard a plant, he advised.<br /><br />Coffee Grower M R Sannasiddhegowda spoke on the problems faced by the Coffee growers such as shortage of labourers, diseases that have struck the Coffee plants and drastic fall in prices. Another Grower A K Vasanthgowda expressed his displeasure on the Coffee board for not informing the growers in Hassan, Kodagu and Chikmagalur about the Coffee Kshetrotsava.<br /><br />The Coffee Board should take immediate steps in avoiding stem borer disease. The 50 per cent subsidy provided for Coffee growers should be increased to 70 per cent, he said.<br /><br />The equipment and machinery used for cultivating coffee was kept on display. A demonstration on usage of machinery, drip irrigation, steps to be taken to avoid stem borer disease was held.</p>
