For the integrated promotion of entrepreneurship in the sector of plantation crops, the Government has framed many schemes and policies, from time to time. All these aim to increase the productivity levels of plantation crops like tea, coffee, rubber, etc. as well as to provide greater incentives to the growers of the crops.

Presently, one of the most prominent schemes has been the 'Price Stabilization Fund Scheme (PSFS)', which was launched in April 2003 for tea, coffee, rubber and tobacco growers. It was introduced against the backdrop of decline in unit value realization of these commodities, at times falling below their cost of production. The main objective of PSF has been to safeguard the interests of growers and provide financial relief when prices fall below a specified level without resorting to the practice of procurement operations by the Government agencies. Out of a target of 12.77 lakh growers (up to 4 ha landholding), it was decided to cover 3.42 lakh small growers (up to 2 ha landholding), in the initial phase. As on March 31, 2007, the enrolment under the scheme was 45,268.

As on November 30, 2007, the PSF Corpus Fund consisted of Rs. 435.1 crore, out of which Rs. 432.9 crore is contributed by Government of India and Rs. 2.3 crore by growers by way of entry fee. A sum of Rs. 103.4 crore as
interest is also available to the Price Stabilization Fund Trust (PSFT) as on March 31, 2007. Since the launch of the scheme in April 2003, the PSF Trust has announced Price Spectrum Bands for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and the cumulative financial assistance committed stood at Rs. 3.71 crore. However, because of growers defaulting in depositing their contribution, assistance of only Rs. 1.16 crore could be released to tea and coffee growers so far.

Financial assistance committed under PSF (Rs. crore)
Commodity	2003	2004	2005	2006	Total
Rubber	0	0	0	0	0
Coffee	0.82	0.58	0	0	1.40
Tea	0.09	0.73	0.74	0.75	2.31
Total	0.91	1.31	0.74	0.75	3.71

(Source: Economic Survey 2007-08)

In order to protect the interest of the coconut growers, the Government has launched the 'Technology Mission on Coconut'. The main aim of the Mission is to help develop a mechanism which makes coconut farming competitive and ensures reasonable returns. The other objectives of the Mission are to:-

• establish convergence and synergy among numerous ongoing governmental programmes in the field of coconut development in order to bring in horizontal and vertical integration of these programmes;
  
• ensure adequate, appropriate, timely and concurrent attention to all the links in the production, post harvest and consumption chain;
  
• maximise economic, ecological and social benefits from the existing investment and infrastructure created for coconut development;
  
• promote economically desirable diversification and value addition to generate skilled employment;
  
• disseminate technologies using participatory approach through demonstration and promotion to address the gaps in a mission mode; etc.