Commodities Board

Commodities Board

Subject :Economy

Context:

The commerce ministry is likely to engage with NITI Aayog to rework the five draft Bills pertaining to cash crops tea, coffee, spices, rubber, and tobacco.

Details:

It proposes the repeal of Tea Act, 1953; Spices Board Act, 1986; Rubber Act, 1947; Coffee Act, 1942 and updation of Tobacco Board Act, 1975.

Concept:

Commodity Boards:

• There are five statutory Commodity Boards under the Department of Commerce. 
• These Boards are responsible for production, development and export of tea, coffee, rubber, spices and tobacco.
• Coffee Board
  • The Coffee Board is a statutory organisation constituted under Section (4) of the Coffee Act, 1942.
  • The Board comprises 33 Members including the Chairperson, who is the Chief Executive and functions from Bangalore.
  • The Board is mainly focusing its activities in the areas of research, extension, development, quality upgradation, economic & market intelligence, external & internal promotion and labour welfare.

• Rubber Board
  • The Rubber Board is a statutory organisation constituted under Section (4) of the Rubber Act, 1947.
  • The Board is headed by a Chairman appointed by the Central Government and has twenty seven members representing various interests of the natural rubber industry.
  • Headquarters is located at Kottayam in Kerala.
  • The Board is responsible for the development of the rubber industry in the country by assisting and encouraging research, development, extension and training activities related to rubber.
  • It also maintains statistical data of rubber, takes steps to promote marketing of rubber and undertake labour welfare activities.
• Tea Board
  • It was set up as a statutory body on 1st April, 1954 as per Section (4) of the Tea Act, 1953.
  • As an apex body, it looks after the overall development of the tea industry.
  • The Board is headed by a Chairman and consists of 30 Members appointed by the Government of India.
  • For the purpose of tea promotion, three overseas offices are located at London, Moscow and Dubai.
  • The functions and responsibilities of the Tea Board include increasing production and productivity, improving the quality of tea, market promotion, welfare measures for plantation workers and supporting Research and Development. Collection, collation and dissemination of statistical information to all stakeholders.
  • Board exerts control over the producers, manufacturers, exporters, tea brokers, auction organisers and warehouse keepers through various control orders notified under Tea Act.
• Tobacco Board
  • The Tobacco Board was constituted as a statutory body on 1st January, 1976 under Section (4) of the Tobacco Board Act, 1975.
  • While the primary function of the Board is export promotion of all varieties of tobacco and its allied products, its functions extend to production, distribution (for domestic consumption and exports) and export promotion of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco.
• Spices Board
  • The Spices Board was constituted as a statutory body on 26th February, 1987 under Section (3) of the Spices Board Act, 1986.
  • It is responsible for the development of the cardamom industry and export promotion of the 52 spices listed in the Schedule of the Spices Board Act, 1986.
  • The primary functions of the Board include production development of small and large cardamom, development and promotion of export of spices.
  • The Board is also implementing programmes for development of spices in the North Eastern region, post-harvest improvement of spices and organic spices in the country.