New Delhi, Jan 8 (KNN) The Government is not planning merger of the Commodity Boards into a single entity to improve production and exports of plantation crops, said C. R. Chaudhary, Minister of State of Commerce and Industry.

In a written reply to Lok Sabha, he said “Government has taken various initiatives through the individual Commodity Boards to enhance the quality and boost exports of the 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 these Boards.”

The exports of coffee, tea and spices have recorded positive growth in 2017-18 against 2016-17and 2015-16.

As per the data revealed by Ministry of Commerce, the value of exports of coffee increased from Rs 5447 crores in 2016-17 to Rs 6210 crores in 2017-18.

Whereas there was a marginal increase in value of exports of spices in 2017-18, which increased from Rs 17812.23 to Rs 17980.16 in 2016-17.

The export of tobacco has shown a decreasing trend. In year 2015-16, the value of exports of tobacoo stood at Rs 6058.13 crores and in year 2016-17, it was near Rs 5975.08 and declined further to Rs 5539.94 crores in 2017-18, according to data.

Chaudhary said “The Department of Commerce has approved to extend 7th CPC benefits to pensioners of Coffee Board and other Commodity Boards - Tea Board, Rubber Board, Spices Board and Tobacco Board with effect from 1.1.2016 for Tobacco Board’s pensioners.”