PHOTO: D. RADHAKRISHNAN

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES: The Union Minister of State for Commerce, Jairam Ramesh (left), on his way to inaugurate the 113th annual conference of UPASI at Coonoor on Saturday. Escorting the Minister is the UPASI President, E. B. Sethna.

UDHAGAMANDALAM: The planting community should make concerted efforts to get over its negative and distress mindset, Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Commerce, said.

Inaugurating the 113th annual conference of the United Planters' Association of Southern India (UPASI) at Coonoor on Saturday, Mr. Jairam Ramesh said a number of measures were on the anvil to solve their problems.

Pointing out that though the plantation sector's contribution to the export efforts of the Commerce Ministry was marginal, he said the sector played a key role on the employment front. In view of this, it was being accorded a great deal of importance. Six States were also dependent on the sector for their economic well being, he said.

Stating that active players such as Sri Lanka, Kenya, Guatemala and Brazil were threatening the Indian plantation industry, he said challenges had to be addressed with a sense of urgency. Pointing out that investment was necessary to improve productivity, he said a Rs. 4,700-crore Special Purpose Tea Fund (SPTF) scheme would be launched in November. It would take care of a massive replanting and rejuvenation programme, covering about two lakh hectares spread over 15 years. A major re-planting programme would be implemented with the help of the National Horticulture Mission for giving a boost to pepper. It was likely to become operational by February 2007.

Though the rubber sector was now doing well, there was a need to replant about 50,000 hectares over the next five years. A subsidy scheme would be announced shortly. A scheme to replant about 90,000 hectares of coffee would be announced within four months. All the schemes would be consultative and transparent in nature. Urging the planters to lay greater emphasis on technology, Mr. Jairam Ramesh said the research laboratories of commodity boards would soon be re-classified as science and technology institutes. He said the Ministry would open tea marketing centres in Egypt and Iran but they should be run by the industry.

He hoped that negotiations with Pakistan on the tea front would be revived soon. A national consensus could be reached on providing social infrastructure to the plantation sector. An improved price stabilisation mechanism was on the cards.

The President of UPASI, E. B. Sethna, who presided the conference, said obsolete labour laws should be modified. Long-term strategy had to be worked out to stabilise and sustain competitiveness. Since mismatch between supply and demand was the prime reason for depressed price levels, it was necessary to increase consumption, particularly within the country.

The Vice-President of UPASI, J. K. Thomas, proposed a vote of thanks. Later speaking to media persons, Mr. Ramesh said that inter-cropping was being encouraged. A new Coffee Act was on the anvil.

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