(a) the quantum of tea, coffee and cotton exported during the last year till 31.12.99 and the
target fixed thereof alongwith the names of the countries where these items were exported; and
(b) the steps being taken to increase the export of above items during the next two years?
MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI MURASOLI MARAN )
(a) Export of tea and coffee during the period April to December 99 was 148.64 mn. kgs and
1.50 lakh tonnes respectively. Export target of tea and coffee for the financial year 1999-2000
was 220 mn. kgs and 1.80 lakh tonnes respectively. Against the export quota of 5 lakh bales
for the year 1998-99 (Oct-Sept.99), export of cotton was 0.9872 lakh bales.
MAJOR COUNTRIES TO WHICH THESE ITEMS ARE EXPORTED INCLUDE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, UK, GERMANY, USA, ITALY, POLAND, ARE, UAE, SAUDI ARABIA, SPAIN, SLOVENIA, BELGIUM ETC.
b) In order to boost export of tea and Coffee the Government and the respective Commodity
Boards have been analysing country-wise exports giving special attention to areas offering
potential. The Commodity Boards also take appropriate action to remove bottlenecks in exports
to individual markets whenever these are noticed.
Certain other steps taken to increase exports of tea and coffee include:-
i) participation in major trade fairs/exhibitions abroad ; ii) field sampling in principal markets; iii) media campaign in potential markets to increase consumer awareness including distribution of literature on tea and coffee; iv) exchange of delegations between India and the importing countries.Govt. have launched a Technology Mission on Cotton with the objective of research, dissemination of technology to the farmers, improvement in marketing infrastructure and modernisation of ginning and pressing factories with a view to increase productivity and quality of Cotton which have direct bearing on exports.