The Hindu Business Line : Jairam Ramesh moots Plantation Dept under Agriculture Ministry

Chennai, June 30 Renewing plantation crops to enhance productivity, an institutional set up for co-ordination between the agencies handling plantation sector, a Cashew Board, along the lines of the Rubber Board, are some of the proposals outlined by the Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, to make the sector competitive.

Addressing an expert consultation on science and shaping the future of plantation crops, at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation here on Saturday, the Minister said bringing the benefit of science and technology to the plantation sector, making the commodity boards research driven and expanding the base of the plantation sector to improve its competitiveness are some of the challenges facing the sector.

Institutional Collaboration

Mr Ramesh urged Dr M.S. Swaminathan, the Chairman, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, and Professor V.L. Chopra, Planning Commission Member, to suggest an organisational structure for greater institutional collaboration between the Indian Council for Agricultural Research, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, commodity boards and private institutions.

With parts of the plantation sector coming under the purview of the Commerce Ministry, to which plantation is only a sideshow, there is need for greater co-ordination with the Agriculture Ministry. It would be ideal if a plantation department was created under the Agriculture Ministry, he said.

The Minister said the sector has now largely restricted focus on Kerala and needs a wider base – Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan need to be developed for mint, coriander, fenugreek and fennel; North-East is a new frontier for rubber and produces more than half the country’s ginger; Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa can emerge big growers of cashew.

Replanting

The country’s plantation output was losing out to competitors in the international market and soon would be edged out in the domestic market as the level of protection comes down. The single largest factor is lower productivity due to the age of plantation crops. The crop has to be rejuvenated and renewed with improved planting material. Last week, the Government launched a special purpose tea fund in Assam and West Bengal to replant and rejuvenate over two lakh hectares of tea plantations.

The Centre will launch a major replanting programme for a range of plantation crops including coffee, pepper, cashew and coconut.

The programme envisages renewing the planting material in 60,000 hectares of coffee estates; 35,000 ha of rubber; 60,000 ha of pepper; 30,000 ha of cardamom; two lakh ha of cashew; and four lakh hectares of coconut.