Question : Merger of Commodity Boards

(a) whether the Government is planning merger of the Commodity Boards into a single entity in order to improve production and exports of plantation crops and if so, the details thereof along with the initiatives of these Boards to enhance the quality and boost exports of plantation crops;
(b) whether exports of Coffee, Tea, Spices, Tobacco have recorded positive growth during the last three years and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of grants received by these Boards for implementation of Schemes in the respective sectors during the last three years;
(d) whether there is any proposal for creating Cashew Board and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has approved to extend 7th CPC benefits to Pensioners of Coffee Board and other Commodity Boards w.e.f. 1/1/2016, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) : No Madam. Government has taken various initiatives through the individual Commodity Boards to enhance the quality and boost exports of these plantation crops by way of providing financial and technical assistance to the growers and the industry for new planting, replanting, rejuvenation, quality up-gradation, value addition and market promotion through the schemes implemented by the these Boards.
(b) : The exports of coffee, tea and spices have recorded positive growth in 2017-18 against 2016-17and 2015-16. The export of tobacco has shown a decreasing trend. The details of export during last three years are as below:

(Qty. in MT and Value in Rs. Crores)
Crop 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
Export (Qty) Value Export (Qty) Value Export (Qty) Value
Tea 2,32,920 4493.10 2,27,630 4632.50 2,56,570 5064.88
Coffee 3,10,015 5056 3,43,933 5447 3,95,014* 6210
Spices 8,43,255 16238.23 9,47,790 17812.23 1,028,060 17980.16
Tobacco 2,43,418 6058.13 2,31,800 5975.08 2,12,916 5539.94
Source: Commodity Boards. * Provisional.
(c) : The details of grants received by these Boards for implementation of Schemes in the respective sectors during the last three years are as below:
Board 2015-16
(Actual) 2016-17
(Actual) 2017-18
(Revised)
Tea Board 179.46 150.41 190.60
Coffee Board 157.34 154.74 186.55
Rubber Board 241.74 184.75 183.08
Spices Board 115.35 89.35 97.10
Tobacco Board Tobacco Board has not drawn any grants from the Government.
(d) : There is no such proposal.
(e) : The Department of Commerce has approved to extend 7th CPC benefits to Pensioners of Coffee Board and other Commodity Boards viz. Tea Board, Rubber Board, Spices Board and Tobacco Board with effect from 1.1.2016 vide order dated 27.12.2018 and vide order dated 17.12.2018 for Tobacco Board’s pensioners.
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