New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed the Commerce Ministry to work out a comprehensive package detailing financial outlays for reviving the ailing plantation sector.

The Ministry has been asked to report back to himat the earliest so that the package, is finalised and announced with the budget, sources said.

The Prime Minister recently convened a meeting with Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh, who is looking after the sector, along with top officials of the Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office.

Review meeting

"The Prime Minister wants specific proposals for each of the commodities — pepper, cardamom, rubber, tea and coffee. Once the proposals are finalised by the Ministry, Dr. Singh will call a review meeting in the near future," the sources said.

The Prime Minister wants the plan to revive the employment-generating plantation sector become part of the 11th Five-Year Plan, starting next year.

"The package will be implemented over a five-year period," the sources said.

The Ministry had already done a lot of groundwork on the plan for rejuvenation of tea plantations and a Cabinet note is being finalised. It will be circulated for inter-ministerial consultations in the coming weeks.

On other commodities, including coconut and cashew, the Ministry has begun seeking inputs from the Agriculture and Finance Ministries.

Besides, the commodity boards have been instructed to collect the ground level feedback from growers, producers, processors and banks.

Mr. Ramesh had visited each of the commodity boards at least twice and held closed-door meetings with their research staff. — PTI

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