The Hindu Business Line : Opposition over allotment of land for vanilla cultivation in Kerala

THE allotment of 1,100 acres by the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) to 11 private parties for cultivating vanilla has evoked criticism from the Opposition parties who have alleged corruption and violation of rules in the deal.

The Government is understood to have decided to cancel the allotments.

The PCK has 30,000 acres of forestland given to it on lease by the Government and further allotting part of it by the corporation for vanilla cultivation under "licensing method" is allegedly a clear violation of the rules, Mr George Chemperi, General Secretary of the Indian Federal Democratic Party (IFDP), said.

Since it is reserved forestland held by the corporation under lease, legally it could not be given again on lease by the PCK, he said. As per the agreement signed between the licensor and licensee, the corporation had already spent Rs 2 crore for providing irrigation facilities to the vanilla plantations, he alleged. Besides, the licensee is permitted to use the PCK quarters apart from setting up temporary sheds in the area.

The licensee has to deposit only Rs 1 lakh for 100 acres of land allotted to each grower, he alleged. As per the agreement number 27, the licensee would pay Rs 5,000 per acre during the first three years and from the fourth year up to 14th year Rs 8,900 per annum.

Meanwhile, according to the lease deed signed by the Kerala Governor and the corporation, the latter should have to use the land for the purpose it has been given for and if this condition is violated, the deed would become null and void, Mr Chemperi said. The IFDP office-bearers alleged that the allotments were made under the auspices of the State Revenue Minister, Mr K.M. Mani. However, Mr Mani, refuting the allegations, told Business Line that he had no role in this matter, as PCK did not come under his portfolio.

"It is politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing my image," he said and added that it was the handiwork of his adversaries.

The Leaderof the Opposition in the State Assembly, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, has urged the Government to cancel the allotment of PCK land for vanilla cultivation. He demanded an inquiry into the affair, after keeping the PCK Chairman and its Managing Director away.

He said that the corporation had allotted the land, which was given under lease to it for 50 years by the forest department for carrying out farming activities. The PCK has 40,000 acres in its possession and of this 30,000 acres are forestland. It has oil palm, cashew and rubber plantations in this land.

According to Mr Achuthanandan, when the licensees would be making a profit of Rs 2,250 crore from vanilla cultivation on 1,100 acres, they would be paying only Rs 50 lakh to the corporation. And to get this Rs 50 lakh, the corporation would be spending several crores of rupees, he alleged.

The PCK had not carried out even the required maintenance of the staff quarters for want of funds. The employees had not been paid wages for the past three months because of financial crisis. And now the same authorities are handing over the quarters to the private licensees, he alleged.

According to a successful vanilla grower in Kottayam district, 1,000 vines could be planted in one acre and the total investment would come to Rs 1.25 lakh.

The yield per plant would vary from 1 kg to 3 kg and assuming a yield of minimum 1 kg per plant the total yield from one acre would come to 1,000 kg. At the current market price of green beans of Rs 3,500 per kg the total income per acre would be Rs 35 lakh. Of this the PCK would be getting a rental of only Rs 8,900 per annum, he said.

The unprecedented demand for vanilla beans in the global market and the consequent steep rise in the prices has enthused several farmers to take up vanilla cultivation on a large scale.

The pressure on land in the State because of the high density of population has driven those having strong political clouts to acquire lands from sources like PCK, an official pointed out.

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Opposition over allotment of land for vanilla cultivation in Kerala