The Hindu Business Line : Centre plans special purpose funds for re-plantation schemes

The Centre will take initiatives to create special purpose funds for assisting re-plantation activities of pepper, cardamom and rubber to augment production of these commodities, the Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, has said.

Re-plantation of large plantation areas of these commodities is imperative if the country is to meet the growing demand from within and abroad, the Minister said at a press conference here on Thursday.

Spices Board

Re-plantation is an issue that needs to be addressed forthwith as more and more plantations have grown old and unproductive.

In the case of cardamom, every year 3,000 hectares are needed to be re-planted for the next 15 years. "There won't be any financial problems (for the re-plantation). This matter is before the Spices Board... and it will be taken care of," he said.

Pepper too needs urgent re-plantation as 68,000 hectares are to be re-planted over five years. This is estimated to entail an investment of Rs 370 crore.

Mr Ramesh said a special purpose fund would be set up together by the Spices Board, Nabard, the State Government and other agencies towards meeting this expense.

In the case of rubber, a similar fund would be mobilised. Mr Ramesh noted that only 17,000 hectares were replanted during the 10th plan period as against the target of 35,000 hectares.

The Minister also stated that under an integrated pest management project, the Spices Board would pilot a chilli cultivation project in 5,000 hectares. This project would be a prelude to organic chilli farming.