Lok Sabha Debates
Problems Faced By Cardamom, Coffee And Rubber Cultivators Of Kerala. on 2 August, 2016
Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title: Problems faced by Cardamom, Coffee and Rubber cultivators of Kerala.
ADV. JOICE GEORGE (IDUKKI): Due to the lesser allocation to the Spices Board, Rubber Board and Coffee Board, the farmers are suffering. Allocation to the Spices Board, Coffee Board and Rubber Board has been reduced from Rs. 95.35 Crore to 70.35 Crore, 136.54 to 121.54 and Rs. 161.75 Crore to Rs. 132.75 Crore respectively. The Spices Board has the mandate to support Cardamom growers by providing subsidies for re-plantation, land improvement and establishing irrigation facilities but due to scarcity of funds this has not been done. The subsidies to the small and marginal coffee growers have not been paid and same is the case with Rubber growers too. The purpose of Commodity Boards has been jeopardized. The cash crop growers, especially Cardamom and Rubber are in distress and the absence of support through subsidies will render them in great trouble which may lead to unfortunate incidents of farmers’ suicide. Hence the intervention of the Government is urged.