NEW DELHI (TIP): Russia has expressed interest in production of civil and light transport aircraft in India with their technology, Parliament was informed on November 28. The Indian government has welcomed the Russian interest and is committed to enhancing bilateral investment and trade cooperation, commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

“The Russian side expressed their interest in production of civil aircraft, light transport aircraft and helicopter in India with Russian technology,” she said. The eighth session of the Indian- Russia Forum on trade and investment was held here on November 5. Replying to a separate question on coffee industry, she said that stem borer pest is amongst major constraints affecting cultivation of Arabica variety of coffee. “The combined effects of higher temperatures, reduction of shade for increasing the yield of pepper grown as intercrop and lack of timely control measures by the growers have led to increase in the incidence of the pest,” she said.

About 3,200 hectares of productive area in Karnatka are reported to have been affected by stem borer due to long dry spell from November 2013 to May 2014 and resultant high temperatures. She added that several steps have been initiated to address the problem of pest in coffee cultivation. “The government has approved a two year action plan (2014-15 and 2015-16) for combating the stem borer in affected areas,” the minister said.