At a time when the domestic plantation industry is at cross roads, none of the Commodity Boards – be it tea, coffee, rubber or spices – has a full-time chairperson at the helm.

Industry sources term this situation “very unfortunate” as they are unable to represent their woes since the existing leadership at the helm is only holding additional charge.

Incidentally, Tea and Rubber Boards have no full board either.

“Tea Board has remained without a full time Chairman for over a year. The Board has neither been reconstituted; the tail has been wagging without a head and body. Not a single meeting of the board has been held for over a year,” an industry source lamented.

Meanwhile, for the first time in recent years, the Commodity Outlook session was convened here this afternoon without the chairperson of the respective Board sharing his/ her perspective.

While C Paulrasu, Executive Director of Tea Board, made a presentation on tea, the Director-Research, Coffee Board, Y Raghuramulu stepped in to recap the coffee scenario, while that of rubber and spices were represented by James Jacob from the Rubber Research Institute and S Kannan, Director (Marketing), Spices, respectively.

The commodity outlook session was chaired by Leena Nair, the Chairperson of Marine Products Export Development Authority.

Nair incidentally holds additional charge of Coffee Board as well.

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