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The annual conference of the United Planters’ Association of Southern India (Upasi), which used to be a mega event some years back, seems to have lost its sheen over time. The conference is now turning to be an annual ritual of sorts.
That the sector is failing to draw the attention of the powers that be to its plight is obvious, although industry representatives beg to differ on this score.
“Union Commerce Minister has always been our first choice; but since Ms Sitharaman is away and we are compelled to hold the conference in September, we have invited Lalitha Kumaramangalam, Chairperson, National Commission for Women and National Vice-President of Bharatiya Janata Party. She is no doubt a senior leader and one interested in women’s welfare. Since 70 per cent of our workforce is women, we perceived that she would be the apt person to chair the 122nd Upasi Conference,” Vijayan Rajes, President, Upasi, told BusinessLine.
A closer look at the industry, however, reveals that all is not well with the plantation sector. Except for coffee and pepper, the overall scenario for all plantation crops look bleak at this juncture. Even coffee prices are quoting much lower than the 2011 rates, tea prices have nosedived well below the production cost and the rubber scenario is chaotic.
But industry captains have not given up. They continue to visit foreign countries to understand the psyche/requirements of the consumer, entertain foreign delegates to showcase the range of plantation products available in India and so on, but such efforts seem not to have registered much progress.
That’s not all. Even planters, who used to take pride in attending the conference with their better halves are not more than a handful now. The conference incidentally has become a meeting ground for most attendees to visit the hill station of Coonoor.
Should the format change? Should there be more thought-provoking discussions on making this industry more vibrant? Such thoughts and more could well see a swing in the industry’s fortunes.
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