Coffee Scheme
KERA Coffee Schemes
Overview
The KERA Coffee Schemes aim to improve productivity, sustainability, and profitability for small and medium coffee growers in Kerala, mainly in Wayanad. Eligible coffee farmers, nurseries, and FPOs/FPCs can apply online for financial assistance and technical guidance. The coffee scheme implementation form covers these supports:
- Coffee Replantation
- Coffee New Plantation (same application details as Replantation)
- Improved irrigation / water augmentation structures
- Support to nurseries for certified seedlings
- Coffee Certification Support Scheme (Eco-Certification)
1. Coffee Replantation Support Scheme
Scheme Type:
- Financial grant for replanting old/senile Robusta coffee plantations.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Indian citizens, including individuals, corporates and cooperatives, with coffee cultivation in Wayanad district.
- Eligible holding: 0.10 hectare to 10 hectares; maximum 10 hectares per year per holding.
- Minimum contiguous replanting area: 0.10 hectare.
- Replantation of existing old/senile and low-productive Robusta plantations aged 40 years or more.
- If interlined with new plants, old plants must be removed after one harvest.
- Replacement of Arabica with Robusta at 1100 m MSL and above is not eligible.
- Mixed cropping farms: subsidy calculated pro-rata based on number of plants (minimum 1000 plants/ha at 10x10 ft spacing for one hectare equivalent).
- Applicant must have absolute ownership of the land; paddy fields are not eligible.
- Mechanized-friendly planting designs are encouraged.
Grant Support:
- Replantation grant of ₹1,10,000 per hectare (40% of unit cost ₹2,75,000/ha) for farmers up to 10 ha.
- Paid in two instalments through DBT: 70% (₹77,000) in the first year after replanting and 30% (₹33,000) in the second year.
- For clean replantation, 70% is released first and 30% later; for interlining, 30% is released first and 70% after old plants are removed.
Training / Technical Requirements:
- Before receiving assistance, the grower must enroll in and complete mandatory training sessions. Training includes best practices in replanting, certified planting materials, soil preparation, spacing, and climate-resilient cultivation.
- Technical Feasibility Report (TFR) and field visit by KERA Field Officers (KFOs) and Joint Liaison Officers (JLOs).
- Guidance on clean planting or interlining.
- Varieties supported: S274, CxR.
- Advised spacing: 10x10 ft or 9x9 ft.
- Cost estimation required for planting material, labour, etc.
2. Coffee New Plantation Support Scheme
Scheme Type:
- Financial grant for new planting of Robusta coffee. Application details in the coffee scheme implementation form are the same as Replantation; the applicant selects New Plantation.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Indian citizens, including individuals, corporates and cooperatives, taking up new coffee planting in Wayanad district.
- Eligible holding: 0.10 hectare to 10 hectares; maximum 10 hectares per year per holding.
- Minimum contiguous new planting area: 0.10 hectare.
- New plantation of Robusta coffee on eligible land (not classified as paddy field).
- Replacement of Arabica with Robusta at 1100 m MSL and above is not eligible.
- Mixed cropping farms: subsidy calculated pro-rata based on number of plants (minimum 1000 plants/ha at 10x10 ft spacing for one hectare equivalent).
- Applicant must have absolute ownership of the land.
- Mechanized-friendly planting designs are encouraged.
Grant Support:
- New plantation grant of ₹1,10,000 per hectare (40% of unit cost ₹2,75,000/ha) for farmers up to 10 ha — same scale as Replantation.
- Paid in two instalments through DBT: 70% (₹77,000) in the first year after new planting and 30% (₹33,000) in the second year.
Training / Technical Requirements:
- Before receiving assistance, the grower must enroll in and complete mandatory training sessions. Training includes best practices in new planting, certified planting materials, soil preparation, spacing, and climate-resilient cultivation.
- Technical Feasibility Report (TFR) and field visit by KERA Field Officers (KFOs) and Joint Liaison Officers (JLOs).
- Varieties supported: S274, CxR.
- Advised spacing: 10x10 ft or 9x9 ft.
- Cost estimation required for planting material, labour, etc.
- In the implementation form, capture the same Replantation/New Plantation details and mark the application as New Plantation.
3. Coffee Irrigation Support Scheme
Scheme Type:
- Financial assistance for irrigation and water storage infrastructure to improve flowering and yield.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Coffee landholding between 0.4 hectare and 10 hectares.
- Grant for water harvesting structures (pucca tanks above ground or below-ground tanks).
- Grant for irrigation equipment (sprinklers; drip where applicable).
- Tank and irrigation equipment may be taken together or separately during the project period.
- Not eligible for the same component if a similar Coffee Board grant was availed in the last 3 financial years.
- Infrastructure can be created on the grower's land or nearby land of immediate family (mother, father, spouse, children) with a consent letter.
Grant Support:
- About 40% of unit cost: water storage tank ₹18,000/ha (unit cost ₹45,000 for 30' x 30' x 10') and sprinkler unit ₹32,000/ha (unit cost ₹80,000).
- Tank grant follows holding size and tank dimension; smaller tanks are paid on a lower category or pro-rata basis.
- Grant is limited to the approved unit cost or actual cost, whichever is less.
Training / Technical Requirements:
- Before receiving assistance, the grower must enroll in and complete mandatory training sessions.
- Submission of self-prepared plan, estimate, sketch, and proforma invoice for equipment.
- Field visit by KFOs and JLOs for verification.
- Geo-tagged photo reports and Feasibility Report are mandatory.
- Civil work must be verified and certified by an LSGD Overseer / certified engineer.
4. Coffee Nursery Support Scheme
Scheme Type:
- Grant to certified nurseries for producing quality, climate-resilient Robusta seedlings for KERA replantation.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Registered farmers, nursery owners, cooperatives and FPCs in Wayanad.
- Valid nursery registration/certificate from a competent authority.
- Minimum 3 years of nursery operation.
- Annual capacity to produce at least 1,00,000 Robusta coffee seedlings.
- Own land or a lease of at least 10 years in Wayanad.
- Mother/scion block of improved varieties on own or leased land of at least 2 acres.
- Advanced irrigation (sprinklers/foggers) with constant water supply, and at least one acre under polyhouse/rain shelter.
Grant Support:
- Up to 60% of project cost, subject to a maximum of ₹6 lakh per eligible nursery.
- Eligible components include scion block, drip irrigation, greenhouse with fogging/misting, shade net/tunnel house, vermicompost unit, electrification, land preparation, storeroom, grafting/cloning/tissue culture, and limited marketing/transport (up to ₹10,000 per year).
- Project report must show annual output of at least 50,000 or 1,00,000 quality seedlings. Proposals are vetted by a KERA committee.
Training / Technical Requirements:
- Online application with ID proof, nursery registration and land documents.
- Seeds/planting material for scion blocks to be procured from Coffee Board Research Station or other authorised sources.
- Field inspection of nursery infrastructure and performance of climate-resilient varieties by KFO/JLO.
5. Coffee Certification Support Scheme (Eco-Certification)
Scheme Type:
- Reimbursement of cost for organic/environmental (eco) certification of coffee holdings to improve quality and market access, including group certification by FPOs/FPCs.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Holdings up to 10 ha, and groups of small growers (FPOs/FPCs).
- Certification under NPOP or international standards such as EU, NOP-USA and JAS-Japan, from an accredited agency during the plan period.
- Collective applicants must submit incorporation/registration certificate, member list, land proofs and related documents.
Grant Support:
- Reimbursement of 75% of certification cost, subject to a maximum of ₹2,00,000.
- Backend support only; costs incurred during the conversion period are also eligible.
- Grant is disbursed through DBT after certificate, invoice and payment proof are verified.
Training / Technical Requirements:
- Before receiving assistance, the grower/group must enroll in and complete mandatory training sessions.
- Upload a copy of the valid certificate, original invoice/bill, and proof of payment of certification fees.
- KFOs and JLOs will scrutinize records, inspect the field, and forward the claim through DDE to PIU.
General Process Flow (All Schemes)
Stage
Application Submission
TFR and Field Visit
Scrutiny
Recommendation
Fund Allocation
Disbursement
Activity
Online portal + document upload
100% inspection by KFO + JLO (Coffee Board)
Applications are verified and forwarded by SLO → DDE → PIU
DDE recommends beneficiary list to PIU
PIU requests fund from SPMU
DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) to beneficiary bank accounts
