This scheme is a sub-component of the Integrated Coffee Development Project During the Medium Term Framework (MTF) Period: Development Support to Stakeholders by the Coffee Board, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It aims to provide tribal growers with high-quality coffee seedlings to ensure the successful establishment of group nurseries, thereby supporting the expansion and consolidation of coffee plantations in the North Eastern Region.
Benefits
• Each coffee seedling is supported at ₹5.
Eligibility
• Applicants must be Self-Help Groups (SHGs) or collectives of tribal growers.
• The seed material must be procured exclusively from the Coffee Board.
Application Process
Offline
• Step 01: Initiation by the Extension Officer:
– Extension Officers of the Coffee Board motivate groups of tribal growers in localities/villages to establish a community-based coffee nursery.
• Step 02: Location & Seedling Selection:
– Groups decide on the nursery location and the number of seedlings to be raised, in consultation with the Coffee Board’s Extension Officer (considering water availability and essential resources).
• Step 03: Group Responsibilities:
– The group ensures active member participation in raising the nursery and distributing the seedlings.
• Step 04: Cost Estimation and Control:
– The Extension Officer estimates the cost, ensuring that each healthy coffee seedling’s cost does not exceed ₹5, inclusive of inputs and labor.
• Step 05: Proposal Submission and Consolidation:
– The Extension Officer submits a proposal with seedling numbers and associated expenditure to the Deputy Director (E).
• Step 06: Regional Consolidation and Recommendations:
– The Joint Director (E) consolidates requirements for the North Eastern Region and forwards the proposal with recommendations to the Director of Research.
• Step 07: Scrutiny and Sanction:
– The Director of Research scrutinizes the proposal and submits it with recommendations to the Head Office in Bengaluru for sanction.
• Step 08: Phased Funding Release:
– Post-sanction, the Joint Director (Extn.) or Deputy Director (E) releases funds in phases as the nursery is raised.
Documents Required
• Proposal containing details of the number of seedlings.
• Associated expenditure details.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How is the support for each coffee seedling calculated?
A: Each coffee seedling is supported at a rate of ₹5.
Q: Is there a specific time frame for raising the group nurseries?
A: The scheme follows an annual cycle aligned with the Coffee Board’s expansion and consolidation programs; specific timelines are communicated by the Extension Officers.
Q: What if the proposed number of seedlings differs from the actual number raised?
A: Discrepancies are addressed during monitoring and evaluation, with adjustments made based on field verification.
Q: How is the proposal consolidated at the regional level?
A: The Joint Director (E) consolidates individual proposals from various localities and submits a unified proposal to the Director of Research.
Q: Is there a maximum or minimum number of seedlings a group can raise?
A: The scheme does not specify a fixed number; it depends on local needs and resource availability as determined by the group and Extension Officers.
Q: What are the annual expansion and consolidation programs?
A: These programs aim to continuously expand coffee plantations and improve nursery management, ensuring steady supply of quality seedlings for new and existing farms.
Q: What is the role of the Director of Research in the process?
A: The Director of Research scrutinizes regional proposals and forwards them with recommendations to the Head Office in Bengaluru for sanction.
Q: What documents are required for the application?
A: The primary documents are the proposal detailing the number of seedlings and the associated expenditure.
Q: How do groups decide on the nursery’s location and the number of seedlings?
A: Decisions are made collaboratively by the group in consultation with the Coffee Board’s Extension Officer, considering factors like water availability and resource needs.
Q: What is the primary goal of this scheme?
A: To ensure the proper establishment of coffee nurseries through the provision of high-quality seedlings, promoting sustainable coffee cultivation in the North Eastern Region.
Q: Which department oversees this scheme?
A: The scheme is overseen by the Coffee Board, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.