Details
The scheme "Development Support
for Coffee in Traditional Areas: Eco-certification of Coffee" is a
Sub-Component of the Scheme "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.
The objective of this scheme is to encourage coffee growers to access
high-value specialty markets through production of eco-certified coffees so as
to realize higher returns by adhering to a set of standards which help in
communication of quality, traceability, social, environmental and financial
conditions surrounding the production of coffee.
Benefits
Extent of Support/ Subsidy
Certification Support: 50% of the certification cost, subject
to a maximum of ₹50,000 (Rupees 50,000) per individual grower/grower groups. In
the case of Organic certification, spread over a period of 3 years or the
conversion period, whichever is less; in the case of other certificates, one
year, during the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
period.
Additional Support for SC/ST
Community:
Individual coffee growers belonging to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe
(SC/ST) community with a coffee holding size of up to 4.00 hectares are eligible
for an additional 10% of the certification cost, subject to a maximum of
₹55,000 (Rupees 55,000) per grower during the MIDH period.
Eligibility
- Individual Growers: Individual growers owning up to 10 hectares of coffee holding and groups of small growers (SHGs, collectives) who obtain certification of their plantations for various sustainability and quality standards are eligible.
- Subsidy Limit: A grower who has availed subsidy under one activity/component is not eligible to avail subsidy for the same activity/component during the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) period unless new beneficiaries are covered.
- Certification Support: Support is available for certification of estates as per Organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ Certified, Bird Friendly/Shade Grown coffee standards, or any other certification programs equivalent to the above programs.
- Organic Certification: Those claiming support for organic certification should have been certified as per the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) standards, even if they are certified as per various international standards like EU Regulation, NOP (National Organic Program of USA), JAS (Japanese Agriculture Standards), etc.
- Certification Agencies: The certificate should be obtained only from the Certification Agencies accredited by the respective Certification Programs.
- Non-Traditional Areas: Non-tribal coffee growers in Non-Traditional Areas with coffee holding sizes of up to 10 hectares are also eligible.
Application Process
Offline
Procedure for Claiming Subsidy
Step 1: Application Submission: After obtaining certification from
an accredited certification body/agency, the grower/grower groups must submit
their application along with a copy of the certificate and other relevant
documents to the concerned jurisdictional Coffee Board office during the same
financial year as the completion of the activity, as far as possible.
Step 2: Document Scrutiny: The concerned office will
scrutinize the documents and conduct field inspections to verify books and
records.
Step 3: Forwarding the Claim: The Joint Liaison Officer (JLO) /
State Liaison Officer (SLO) shall forward the claim along with the Physical
Verification Report and other relevant records to the concerned Deputy Director
(Extn).
Step 4: Subsidy Release: The Deputy Director (Extn.), after
scrutinizing the claim and records and confirming the admissibility of the
claim in all respects, will release the subsidy amount to the beneficiary's
bank account through National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT).
NOTE: This incentive provides backend
support only to those who obtain certification for their estates.
Apply Now
Documents Required
For Claiming Subsidy
Application
Application in the prescribed format
(in duplicate).
Proof of Identity and Registration
Proof of identity of the
grower/registration certificate in the case of the growers' group.
Certification Documents
Copy of the certificate issued by the
accredited Certification Agency.
Land Ownership Documents
Any of the following:
Copy of Patta/Khatha Extract along
with Record of Rights (RTC) for all Survey Numbers having coffee in possession
of the applicant/applicants in respect of Karnataka.
Copy of Land Possession Certificate
issued from the competent Revenue authority (Atalji Kendra) / Central Record
Center (CRC) along with RTCs for all Survey Numbers having multiple names in
the RTCs of the applicant/applicants in respect of Kodagu District in
Karnataka.
Copy of Chitta & Adangal of the
applicant/applicants in respect of Tamil Nadu.
Copy of Land Possession Certificate
of the applicant/applicants issued by the competent Revenue authority of
Kerala. In case the applicant is a GPA holder, provide an attested copy of the
registered GPA.
Attested Documents
An attested copy of the Certificate
issued by the accredited Certification Agency.
Original invoice/bill towards the
cost of certification/proof of payment of certification costs.
Copy of the Bank Pass Book containing
the details, such as the name of the account holder, account number, name of
the bank, branch, IFSC code, etc., preferably Aadhaar seeded.
In case the applicant is a GPA
holder, provide an attested copy of the registered GPA.
In case of SC/ST category grower
applying individually, provide a caste/community certificate issued by the
competent authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the process for claiming the
subsidy?
After obtaining certification from an
accredited agency, growers must submit their application, certificate copy, and
relevant documents to the Coffee Board office in the same financial year as the
activity's completion.
Is this support available to
non-tribal coffee growers in Non-Traditional Areas?
Yes, non-tribal coffee growers in
Non-Traditional Areas with coffee holdings of up to 10 hectares are also
eligible for this support.
Where should certification be
obtained?
Certificates should only be obtained
from Certification Agencies accredited by the respective Certification
Programs.
What are the criteria for organic
certification?
Growers seeking support for organic
certification should have been certified as per the National Programme for
Organic Production (NPOP) standards.
What types of certification are
supported?
This support covers certification
standards such as Organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ Certified, Bird
Friendly/Shade Grown coffee, and any equivalent certification programs.
Can a grower avail the same subsidy
for multiple activities/components?
No, a grower cannot avail the same
subsidy for one activity/component during the Mission for Integrated
Development of Horticulture (MIDH) period unless new beneficiaries are
included.
Who is eligible for this support?
Individual growers with coffee holdings
of up to 10 hectares and small grower groups (SHGs, collectives) obtaining
certification for sustainability and quality standards are eligible.
Are there any special provisions for
SC/ST community growers?
Yes, individual coffee growers from
the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) community with holdings up to 4.00
hectares can receive an additional 10% of the certification cost, up to ₹55,000
during the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) period.
How much support is provided for
certification costs?
Certification support covers 50% of
the certification cost, with a maximum of ₹50,000 per individual grower or
grower groups. For organic certification, this support is distributed over
three years or the conversion period.
What is the primary goal of the
"Development Support for Coffee in Traditional Areas: Eco-certification of
Coffee" scheme?
This scheme aims to encourage coffee
growers to access high-value specialty markets by producing eco-certified
coffees, adhering to quality, traceability, social, environmental, and
financial standards.
What documents are required to claim
the subsidy?
Documents include the application,
proof of identity/registration, certification documents, land ownership
documents, attested certification certificate, original invoice/bill, bank
passbook copy, and, if applicable, a GPA holder's attested copy and SC/ST
community certificate.
What's the procedure for claiming the
subsidy?
After obtaining certification from an
accredited agency, growers must submit their application, certificate copy, and
relevant documents to the Coffee Board office in the same financial year as the
activity's completion.
Can non-tribal coffee growers in
Non-Traditional Areas apply?
Yes, non-tribal coffee growers in Non-Traditional
Areas with holdings up to 10 hectares are eligible for this support.
Where should growers obtain
certification?
Certificates should be obtained only
from Certification Agencies accredited by the respective Certification
Programs.
Is there additional support for SC/ST
community growers?
Yes, individual coffee growers from
the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) community with holdings up to 4.00
hectares can receive an extra 10% of the certification cost, up to ₹55,000
during the MIDH period.
Is there a limit to availing
subsidies?
Yes, a grower can't avail the same
subsidy for one activity/component during the Mission for Integrated
Development of Horticulture (MIDH) period unless new beneficiaries are covered.
What support or subsidy is available
for certification?
Certification support covers 50% of
the certification cost, with a maximum of ₹50,000 per individual grower/grower
groups. For organic certification, it's spread over three years or the
conversion period, while for other certificates, it's for one year during the
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) period.
What types of certification are
supported?
Support is available for
certification in various standards like Organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance,
UTZ Certified, Bird Friendly/Shade Grown coffee, or any other equivalent
certification programs.
Sources And References
Guidelines & Application Form CLICKHERE
Grower's Registration (UMANG) CLICKHERE
