Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta urged Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal to establish a satellite office of the Coffee Board in Mangaluru to strengthen coffee cultivation in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.
Meeting Mr. Goyal in New Delhi on February 6, Capt. Chowta highlighted the need to promote coffee cultivation in Dakshina Kannada, following up on his recent Unstarred Question No. 352 in the Lok Sabha. He requested an update on the Coffee Board’s survey assessing the feasibility of coffee cultivation in the district, and urged the Ministry to outline the next steps in supporting the initiative.
The satellite office, Capt. Chowta said, would provide technical support, conduct awareness programmes and equip farmers with essential knowledge and skills to enhance coffee cultivation and improve their incomes.
Protect arecanut growers
The MP drew Mr. Goyal’s attention to another critical issue, unfair competition being faced by arecanut growers in the region. He told the Minister about the distress faced by arecanut growers due to the influx of imported arecanut, which has led to unpredictable price drops and financial instability for thousands of growers.
Capt. Chowta urged the Minister to set up a special task force to study the factors behind price fluctuations and quality differences while also exploring measures to protect domestic farmers from the adverse impact of imported arecanut.
The MP said, “The farmers of Dakshina Kannada form the backbone of our local economy. It is imperative that we take strong measures to safeguard their livelihood. I am confident that the Hon’ble Minister will take these concerns seriously and work towards viable solutions to support our farmers.”
Mr. Goyal assured Capt. Chowta that the Ministry would examine these concerns and explore appropriate interventions to address the challenges faced by arecanut and coffee growers in Dakshina Kannada.
Published - February 07, 2025 12:28 pm IST
