KOCHI:
The Cochin Chamber of Commerce had given a proposal for framing a plantation policy in the pre-budget memorandum as well as in its submissions to CM as Kerala produces 48% of total plantation crops in India. The State accounts for 76.5% of rubber, 88.6% of cardamom, 22.05% of coffee and 4.54% of tea produced in the country. The sector employs 3.3 lakh labourers and extension of housing support under life mission will be a boon to many.
The Cochin Chamber of Commerce had been advocating vigorously for this policy for the last few years as these four crops together occupy 7.05 lakh hectares, accounting for a 34.6 percent of the net cropped area in the State (Appendix 2.4 of Economic Review 2018). Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, in his study report published in 2003 titled “Building a Sustainable Agricultural Trade Security System for Kerala” had suggested a comprehensive policy framework for the plantation sector. This policy approved by the Government is a step in this direction.
Allowing intercropping and mixed cropping will improve earnings per acreage making the plantations more viable as dependence on a single crop will come down. Cultivation of vegetables, will also enable the state to take up growing vegetables in a scientific way and bring in self-sufficiency to the state. Allowing growth of medicinal plants will indeed give a boost to the Ayurveda sector as many herbs and plants were becoming a rare species in the state.
As eco-tourism is gaining momentum, allowing tourism projects in plantations will not only promote tourism, but also improve the non-core revenue to the plantation sector. Insurance cover for the plantation crops is also a welcome move.
The increased revenue, it is expected will enable employers to consider giving plantation workers better wages for their employment.
The Chamber also urged the government to favorably consider its pending demands like incentivising value addition, giving preference to Kerala origin tea for supply through the public distribution system, electricity tariff at agricultural rates than industry rates and a much-needed demand of ESI cover for plantation employees.
