The Commerce Ministry is planning merger of the commodity boards and set up an umbrella organisation in order to improve production and exports of plantation crops like tea, coffee, and spices.
Some of these boards were set up way back in the 1940s and their merger could help in harmonising their activities and in turn, enhance the quality and boost exports.
“India has a huge potential to boost agri exports. One board will provide better services. So, we are working to form one specialised body with different verticals,” a senior commerce ministry official told PTI.
The Coffee Board is a statutory organisation constituted under the Coffee Act, 1942. Similarly, the Rubber Board was constituted under the Rubber Act, 1947.
Tea Board was set up on 1st April 1954 under the Tea Act, 1953. The Tobacco Board was constituted in January 1976, while the Spices Board was formed in February 1987.
These crops play an important role in the economic growth as they contribute in the country’s exports and also create huge employment for people.
But dip in global demand and prices have impacted shipments of some of these commodities.
In December 2016, exports of tea and tobacco recorded positive growth, while shipments of coffee and spices grew by 15 percent and about 3 percent, respectively.
Agri-products account for over 10 percent of the country’s total exports.
In order to boost agri-exports, the Commerce Ministry has asked exporters to explore new markets and ship value-added products.
