The Government has proposed to reorient the structures and functioning of commodity boards and also make the price stabilisation fund (PSF) scheme for the plantation sector more beneficiary-friendly and popular among growers, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia has said.

Addressing the 54th annual conference of the Karnataka Planters’ Association (KPA) here last night, he referred to the two studies sponsored by the Commerce Ministry — one by the Kochi-based Centre for Sustainable Development for rubber and spices and another by the Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM) for the tea and coffee sectors.

“These two studies have made certain important recommendations regarding strengthening of commodity boards, reorienting their structures and functioning, apart from some specific recommendations on issues such as replantation, labour shortage and research priorities,” Scindia said.

On the coffee sector, the study has suggested creation of a directorate of extension and directorate of promotion for strengthening of transfer of technology and promotion activities in the country.

The Commerce Ministry has included these suggestions in the 12th Plan (2012-2017) proposals, he said.

Noting that the PSF scheme has not received the anticipated results, he said it’s in the process of being made more beneficiary-friendly.

The proposed restructuring of the PSF scheme is based on recommendations of the Pronab Sen committee and other experts, by making eligibility criteria to join the scheme much more liberal, narrowing down the price spectrum bands and providing higher interest rates on deposits.

“The (restructured) scheme will prove to be much more popular among the growers”, the Minister added.

Touching upon research and development activities, Scindia said three promising high-yielding varieties of Arabica coffee strains are at advanced stage of evaluation.

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