The government's interventions have focused on promoting certified organic production, missing out the challenge of using the organic route to reward traditional, marginal farmers. This misplaced priority seems to be changing. A master plan for the production of organic coffee is almost ready. Formulated by the coffee board, the plan focuses on belts where tribals and small growers cultivate the commodity without recourse to chemical pesticides and fertilisers. The blueprint identifies areas for production potential and draw up packages of practices.

Organic tea production is also gaining momentum. A company in southern India