Centre to set up directorate to protect small planters

The government is planning to set up a new directorate for small growers by the end of this financial year to protect the interests of small growers in the plantation sector.

“The proposal for setting up a small growers directorate is in an advanced stage of discussion. The finance ministry has already given its approval. In all probability, the directorate will be operational by the end of this financial year,” A K Mangotra, additional secretary in the ministry of commerce, said at the annual general body meeting of the United Planters’ Association of Southern India (Upasi) here.

He also said there was a consensus that small growers were clubbed with large growers which sidelined their interests. Referring to the re-plantation and rejuvenation programme of the ministry in the tea sector, Mangotra said, “We have set a target of two per cent re-plantation in the tea sector by the end of this financial year and are hopeful of achieving it.”

In a bid to boost both production and productivity in the tea sector, the ministry has embarked upon a plan for re-plantation. However, it is only limited to tea, whereas the need for re-plantation is there across the plantation sector.

“We are trying to get similar schemes in coffee, rubber and other plantation crops. We have discussed these things and some schemes are expected to be launched in coffee and rubber in the twelfth five-year plan,” he said. Earlier, Mangotra stressed upon re-plantation in this sector at the Upasi event to boost productivity, which otherwise is facing stagnant growth both in terms of production and productivity.

Plantation sector revenue was estimated at Rs 25,443 crore in 2009-10, which was nearly 2.53 per cent of the total agricultural GDP of the country.

The export realisation during this period was pegged at Rs 5,645 crore, which accounts for nearly eight per cent of the total agricultural and allied products. However, the sector is facing problems like reduced productivity due to old plantations, shortage of labour, primitive ways of production, among others.

“We are aware of the rising cost of cultivation. However, the solution lies with the higher degree of mechanisation along with scientific ways of cultivation,” Mangotra said. He also said that planters should be export oriented to create more value for the industry.