The Karnataka Planters' Association (KPA) has sought replanting, mechanisation, eco-pulpers and water augmentation as focus areas for subsidies in the 12th Five Year Plan commencing in 2012.

In its submission at the 12th Plan consultation meet held under the umbrella of Coffee Board on Monday, Mr Sahadev Balakrishna, chairman, KPA, said these four determined areas will definitely help and revitalise the coffee sector for the next five years.

Replanting is the single largest contributor to increase in productivity. This is the most important investment for growers which forms the basis for improving the production and productivity of the estates as it ensures in replacing aged and low yielding coffee plants.

“Since commencement of the Eleventh Plan, due to steep increase in cost of inputs and labour costs, the cost of cultivation has gone up. Therefore, the our cost of replanting should be revised to Rs 1,75,000 per hectare for Arabica and Rs 1,20,000 per hectare for Robusta,” said Mr Balakrishna.

“We have sought that subsidy for clean replanting and for re-plantation by interlining for Arabica and Robusta be raised to 60 per cent, 50 per cent, 40 per cent and 25 per cent and be made applicable to co-operatives and the corporate sector too,” he added

In the 11th Plan the cost of replanting of Arabica was fixed at Rs 1 lakh per hectare and Rs 70,000 per hectare for Robusta. And the subsidy fixed was as follows: growers holding up to two hectares, 40 per cent; between two and 10 hectare, 30 per cent; and above 10 hectare, 20 per cent.

Mechanisation

KPA has requested continuation of the existing mechanisation scheme for five more years with a budget of at least Rs 300 crore. “Mechanisation is inevitable in the days ahead. The scheme should be made applicable to all categories of growers irrespective of size of holdings, including the co-operative and corporate sectors,” said Marvin Rodrigues, Vice-Chairman, KPA.

“We request additional mechanical implements be included, which would include green bean separators. And the rate of subsidy be fixed at 50 per cent for all categories of growers with maximum limit of Rs 10 lakh,” he added.

Eco-pulpers, coffee driers

Eco-pulpers is the way to go in the future as it will kill two birds with one stone — while being able to deliver better quality of washed coffees, it can greatly reduce the level of water consumption which will lead to better pollution abatement, explained Mr Balakrishna.

Recently, the Coffee Board introduced subsidy for coffee driers and eco-pulpers but only to growers of up to 20 hectares (50 acres) and for a maximum investment of Rs 10 lakh; the subsidy is at 20 per cent or a maximum of Rs 2 lakh.

“KPA for the 12th Plan has requested the Coffee Board that this scheme be made applicable to all categories of growers irrespective of type and size of holdings. And the rate of subsidy be fixed at 50 per cent for growers of up to 20 hectares and 40 per cent for growers of more than 20 hectares with an increase of maximum limit up to actual costs,” said Mr Balakrishna.

Increasing non-availability of water for irrigation and for wet processing of coffee has hampered production, productivity and quality of harvested coffee by wet processing. At present, growers are not able to irrigate their crop, spray insecticides or wet process their coffee harvested.

“Providing for water augmentation measures benefits the whole environment and ecosystem of the neighbouring area and not just the individual estate. Keeping this in mind, we have requested for the scheme to be applicable to all growers irrespective of extent or type of holding,” said Mr Balakrishna.

“As for the rate of subsidy, this may be increased to 50 per cent to growers of up to 20 hectares and 40 per cent to growers of above 20 hectares and the ceiling be fixed at actual cost,” he added.

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