Kochi:
The Association of Planters of Kerala (APK) has prevailed upon the
central government to promote the export of plantation crops while
also suggesting that steps should be taken to restrict import by means
of non-tariff measures.
Making a presentation of the present scenario in the plantation sector
and to instil in the workforce the concept of a drastic reduction in
cost of production in the backdrop of the impending wage settlement (), APK chairman G
J Ancheril said the industry is going through the throes of multiple
woes caused by a steep fall in prices of tea, coffee and natural
rubber.
Several estates have closed down and many others are finding it
impossible to keep going, Ancheril said. "To help the growers to
get a better price for the produce, the government should raise the
import duty of plantation crops to bound rates. In the case of natural
rubber, the bound rate has to be increased by shifting the product to
an item under article of agriculture with WTO approval. For the
government the way out of the present crisis is to promote value
addition of plantation crops."
To achieve reduction in the cost of production, the government has to
ensure affordable wage rates in plantations, insist on the adoption of
productivity norms in order to become competitive with producers
elsewhere, allow diversification of plantation crops and provide
facility to cultivate fuel trees, he said.
Advocating the demand for enlarging the definition of plantations in
the Kerala Land Regulation Act, 1963, he said it should include crops
like cashew, vanilla, medicinal plants and agro forestry so as to
facilitate the cultivation of alternate crops in the lands held by
plantations. "Also the definition of food crops in the Kerala
Land Utilisation Order should be amended to exclude tea, coffee and
cardamom in order to facilitate crop conversion."
also see : see
APK to end settlement with trade unions
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