Kochi: The 110^th annual session of the United Planters' Association of South India (Upasi), commencing at Coonoor on 26 September, assumes added significance in view of the unprecedented crisis in the plantation sector which has already resulted in the closure of several estates.

The session will assess the present situation in the plantation sector and evolve a strategy to tide over the crisis by identifying new products and markets, say Upasi sources. Union Minister for Commerce, Law and Justice Arun Jaitely will inaugurate the annual conference of Upasi.

Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Vidyasagar Rao will be the guest of honor at the conference. The session will be attended by captains of plantation industry, helmsmen of commodity boards, and experts. A technical session on plantation commodities is also on the agenda of the two-day annual conference.

It was the crash in the prices of plantation commodities that rendered several plantation estates non-viable, resulting in their closure. Rubber was the first to bear the brunt of price crash. But of late the rubber sector has seen a ray of hope for sustained rise in prices. The price during the first six months ended June this year had gone up from Rs 35.70 to Rs 41 per kg.

The UPASI annual conference is expected to evolve ways and means for increasing consumption of the commodity. Production of rubber rose from 6.31 lakh tonnes in 2001-02 to 6.49 lakh tonnes in 2002-03 while the consumption went up from 6.3 lakh tonnes in 2001-02 to 6.95 lakh tonnes in 2002-03.

According to projections by the Rubber Board, production is expected to go up 6.85 lakh tonnes this year. Consumption, according to the board, may also rise to 7.12 lakh tonnes.