Planters in south India, dissatisfied with a 25 per cent subsidy announced by the Union commerce ministry for the rejuvenation of tea gardens, have demanded more incentives. | |
| Addressing the Upasi annual meet in Coonoor, J K Thomas president, Upasi, said, "The Upasi was one of the main votaries of this rejuvenation package. The industry had sought a subsidy of 40 per cent, considering the cash flow problems. The ministry had approved it. Unfortunately, the subsidy was brought down. We strongly feel that the 25 per cent subsidy offered is not good enough to enthuse planters to uproot their producing assets, especially in south India," he added. He added that the coffee body had suggested the unit cost of replanting in south India to be assessed correctly so that the 25 per cent subsidy would be meaningful to growers. Replanting in old tea areas is expected to reduce the surplus in the short term and make the industry more competitive and increase the workers' earnings. |
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| Urging the Union commerce ministry to take up generic promotions of plantation crops in the 11th five-year plan, Thomas said the industry was not in a position to invest money at his juncture, collectively or individually, to embark upon a huge promotional campaign. |
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| "Currently, the industry is burdened with low price realisation, rising cost and now the replantation programme initiated for tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom," he added. |
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| GI for more varieties |
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| The Tea Board is planning to go in for the Geographical Indicator (GI) registration for the Assam Orthodox and Nilgiris tea varieties on the lines of registration for the Darjeeling tea. |
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| Speaking at the Upasi meet in Coonoor, Tea Board Chairman Basudeb Banerjee said, "The Tea Board is committed to find export markets for tea, especially the tea grown in south India. We will be able to differentiate our products and help in marketing them if we go in for GI registration." The process for the GI registration would be taken up once the current tea season was over, he added. |
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| In the first seven months of the calendar year, the country's tea exports were down by 19.2 per cent at 86 million kg as against 106.6 million kg in the year-ago period. |
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