The Hindu Business Line : TN tea subsidy scheme `timely'

THE Nilgiris Small Tea Growers Association has welcomed the Small Tea Growers Protection Scheme announced by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms Jayalalithaa.

"We have been asking for assistance from both the State and the Centre for the survival of more than 60,000 small growers who are reeling under an economic distress close to the 2000-year level. While the Centre is yet to react, we are pleased that the Tamil Nadu Government has realised the gravity and announced the subsidy, which ensures Rs 2 a kilo for our green leaf. We are grateful to the CM for her timely recognition of the dismal economy of the growers," the Association's President, Mr M. Bhojarajan, told Business Line.

Whenever the Centre granted price subsidy, it was routed through the Tea Board. "Now, the State has announced that the subsidy would be immediately disbursed directly to the growers. We do not know how this is done, but it is imperative that steps must be taken to ensure that the genuine growers benefit from this," he said.

He also said that the Centre should help farmers by fixing a remunerative floor price and make the Defence forces procure all their tea requirements from the Nilgiris. He also urged the Commerce Ministry to form the Small Grower Development Authority for which representations had been made for long.

The former Vice-Chairman of Tea Board, Mr T. Rangaiah, said that the Centre had already granted a subsidy for the production of orthodox tea. "This has not benefited the small growers of the Nilgiris because the small-scale factories, to whom the growers supply leaves, manufacture only CTC teas. The industry leaders and the Tea Board should help in the creation of dual manufacturing facilities in the factories. Then, all such subsidies will help the farmers," he said.

Pointing out that the Tamil Nadu Government had done several measures in the past to help the growers, he cited the total abolition of agricultural income-tax, introduction of "Ooty Tea" project and ushering in of Teaserve electronic auctions.

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