Coffee Development Programme in North Eastern Region: Support for Group Nurseries is a scheme run by the Coffee Board that helps tribal coffee growers set up community nurseries and get good quality seedlings. Under this, each healthy coffee seedling raised by a group is eligible for support of ₹5.
This scheme is a sub-component of the Integrated Coffee Development Project (ICDP), managed by the Coffee Board under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is still open for the 2026-27 financial year, and groups of tribal growers can apply through the local Coffee Board extension offices.
Coffee Development Programme in North Eastern Region: Support for Group Nurseries - Introduction
The scheme focuses on helping farming communities by giving them access to high quality coffee seedlings. By encouraging group led nurseries, it makes sure that coffee plantations get a strong start with healthy and reliable planting material.
The support is part of the broader ICDP, which covers development support for coffee in traditional areas, non traditional areas and the North Eastern Region. For the group nursery component, the Coffee Board works closely with self help groups and collectives of tribal growers in the North East.
Key Information
| Scheme Name | Coffee Development Programme in North Eastern Region: Support for Group Nurseries |
|---|---|
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Infra |
| Beneficiary States | North Eastern states |
| Category | Agriculture, Rural & Environment |
| Target Beneficiaries | SHGs and collectives of tribal growers |
| Sub Category | Agricultural Inputs and Financial assistance |
| Benefit Type | Cash |
| DBT Scheme | Yes |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
| Nodal Department | Department of Commerce |
| Tags | Agriculture, Farmer, Subsidy, Financial Assistance, DBT |
Benefits
Eligible groups receive financial support to manage the cost of raising their nursery. Each healthy coffee seedling produced by the group is eligible for a support of ₹5. This amount is inclusive of the input cost and the labour cost of raising the seedling.
Eligibility
To benefit from this scheme, a group needs to meet the following criteria:
- Members should be part of a self help group (SHG) or a collective of tribal coffee growers.
- The seed material for raising the coffee nursery should be procured only from the Coffee Board to keep quality standards.
For example, if Ramesh and his fellow tribal farmers in a village form a collective, they can apply for this support together to grow their seedlings.
Application Process
The application process for this scheme is handled through the local Coffee Board extension officers. There is no separate online form for this component; the work is done through the extension machinery. Follow these steps:
STEP 1 - Your local Coffee Board extension officer helps motivate a group of tribal growers to raise a coffee nursery on a community basis in the village.
STEP 2 - Together as a group, decide on the location of the nursery and the number of seedlings to be raised, keeping in mind the availability of water and other essential resources.
STEP 3 - The group takes responsibility for motivating members to take part and later distribute the seedlings among themselves.
STEP 4 - The extension officer estimates the cost of raising the nursery, making sure the total cost per healthy seedling does not exceed ₹5.
STEP 5 - The extension officer submits a proposal with the number of seedlings to be raised and the expenditure involved to the Deputy Director (Extension).
STEP 6 - The Deputy Director consolidates the requirement for the region and sends it to the Joint Director (Extension), Guwahati, who then forwards it to the Director of Research.
STEP 7 - The Director of Research scrutinises the proposal and sends it to the Head Office in Bengaluru for final sanction.
STEP 8 - Once sanctioned, the Joint Director (Extension) or Deputy Director (Extension) releases the amount in phases at different stages of raising the nursery.
Documents
To apply, the group should prepare the following documents:
- A formal proposal that lists the total number of coffee seedlings the group plans to raise.
- A detailed break up of the expenditure involved in running the nursery.
References
View ICDP Guidelines for North Eastern Region
Grower's Registration on UMANG
Coffee Board invites applications for 2026-27 subsidies
FAQ's
How is the support for each coffee seedling calculated?
Each healthy coffee seedling is eligible for a fixed support amount of ₹5, which covers the input cost and labour cost of raising the seedling.
Is there a specific time frame for raising the group nurseries?
There is no strict fixed timeline. The scheme focuses on keeping quality and managing costs well throughout the process.
What happens if the proposed number of seedlings differs from the actual number raised?
The extension officer handles any difference between the initial proposal and the actuals during the cost estimation and verification stages.
How is the proposal consolidated at the regional level?
The Deputy Director consolidates the regional requirement and sends it to the Joint Director in Guwahati for further recommendation.
Is there a maximum or minimum number of coffee seedlings that a group can raise?
The scheme does not define a specific limit. It depends on the group's capacity and local requirements.
Which department oversees this scheme?
This scheme is run by the Coffee Board, under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.