The Indian government is going to streamline and simplify the Coffee Act, remove the provisions which are restrictive and regulatory. While interacting with coffee growers, roasters, exporters and other stakeholders, Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal assured them that the government does not have any intention of closing the Coffee Board, but it is proposed to shift it from the commerce and industry ministry to the agriculture ministry.
“This will ensure that the benefits of all the schemes of agriculture are extended to the coffee growers, and it was decided in the meeting to completely relook at the provisions of the Act and to remove those provisions which are restrictive and regulatory in nature, so as to bring out a simple Act that suits the present needs of the coffee sector and facilitates its growth.
Goyal also said that a special package to assist agri-exports at least for one year will be considered under the Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) under which the government reimburses a certain portion of international freight charges.
He also assured them that the Centre will make efforts to include suitable provisions in the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act to resolve problems faced by plant growers and dispel the coffee growers’ concerns about losing their lands in view of the notices issued by the banks under the Act.
On the issue of a special package for the restructuring of coffee loans into a single term loan with a long repayment period and interest subvention, the minister assured them of a feasible package in discussion with the ministries concerned.