Kerala’s plantation sector is reeling under the impact of widespread damage and crop losses caused by the recent floods. However, the crisis can turn into an opportunity if future growth is channelised along ecologically sustainable and economically viable lines, says Thomas Jacob, Chairman of the Association of Planters of Kerala (APK).
Such an approach, he says, will generate employment and income. He firmly believes that this can be achieved by encouraging inter-cropping and multi-cropping, abolition of agricultural income tax and conservation of soil and water.
The biodiversity of the Western Ghats can be further strengthened if cultivation of fruit crops, bamboo and indigenous tree species known for their timber value is allowed in the plantation sector, he said in an interaction. Edited excerpts:
Will the plantation sector be the same again in terms of activities or the way growers practised farming?
Kerala’s plantation sector has a legacy of more than one-and-a-half centuries; it is perhaps the only industry in the State that withstood and re-emerged from the floods of 1924.
The industry has suffered huge losses, of which some are irreversible. It is interesting to note that the landslides reported in the plantation sector have not originated in the core plantation area.
As far as farming practices are concerned, the primary focus of growers has always been on conservation of resources like soil, water and natural flora and fauna without which the cultivation of plantation crops would not be possible.
The heavy rains and subsequent floods have steeled our resolve to conserve and strengthen resources like soil, water and biodiversity without which the sector may not be able to survive.
How have the rains/floods affected the plantation sector?
All the plantation crops have been drastically affected. The losses are three-fold — crop loss, losses to production infrastructure and losses to ancillary infrastructure.
The total estimated crop loss is above ₹800 crore, which may accentuate further depending on the recovery period.
The losses to production infrastructure are estimated to be approximately ₹450 crore and we are yet to quantify the losses to ancillary infrastructure.
If you analyse the weather reports for the last five years, it can be seen that the State had experienced drought conditions of moderate to severe nature in 2015 and 2016.
In 2015, there was deficit rainfall of 26 per cent, and in 2016, a deficit of 43 per cent. In 2018 there is already excess rainfall of over 40 per cent.
That means within a short span of five years, Kerala is experiencing extreme weather conditions, which is a tell-tale sign of climate change.
All plantation crops are extremely weather sensitive and any shift in the weather conditions can affect production and productivity.
The shift of the South-West monsoon to the excess rainfall situation has adversely affected all the crops. The tea industry has already lost 7 million kg in production.
Overall production for the current year will be 30 per cent lower. Cardamom is the worst affected crop, nearly 25 per cent of the plants have to be replaced and the production will be 50-55 per cent less.
Rubber production will be reduced by 20-25 per cent and coffee may record a deficit of 15-20 per cent.
Which are the commodities that are worst affected?
The maximum damage has been reported from the cardamom sector, especially Devikulam, Udumbanchola, Kumily, Vandiperiyar, Peermade, Elappara and Thodupuzha areas. The storm experienced in the initial phases of the monsoon has caused severe damage to yielding plants, wherein nearly 25 per cent of the yielding plants will have to be replanted.
Extensive damage has been reported to the indigenous shade trees which may take years to replenish.
The high intensity rainfall during the second phase of the monsoon has resulted in an epidemic outbreak of rhizome rot and capsule rot.
It is estimated that production will be 50-55 per cent lower compared to the previous year. The current crop loss alone could be above ₹400 crore, but as per the estimate, the overall season loss could be above ₹1,000 crore.
What kind of relief has the government provided to affected growers?
The Government has taken effective steps to rebuild the communication network and healthcare systems on a war footing basis.
As far as the relief measures are concerned, the State Level Bankers Committee has recommended a moratorium on agricultural loans for a period of 12-18 months.
The growers have reported the extent of damage to the concerned revenue authorities. As the magnitude of damages is too severe, long-term relief measures for the growers are yet to be finalised.
Is the relief adequate? Has APK suggested any other relief measures that the Government needs to take up?
APK has requested the Centre to immediately disburse already recognised and pending financial support from all the Commodity Boards to the growers.
It has also requested to declare MSP for all the plantation commodities, as per the formula adopted for cereal crops.
As the damages to production and the ancillary infra structure are too severe, it may not be possible for growers or the State Government to completely fund the reconstruction. Hence, the Association has requested the Central Government to provide a grant for reestablishing the production infrastructure and long-term soft loans for reconstruction of the ancillary infrastructure.
As there has been damage of soil conservation and water conservation facilities, it has been requested that the State extend financial support for rebuilding the same.
For bringing back the natural shade tree canopy, it was requested to provide support through the Social Forestry Scheme for planting trees indigenous to the Western Ghats.
How long do you think the plantation sector would need to get back to normal?
Damages due to the current crisis can be divided as short term as well as long term. We expect tea production to resume by mid-October to early November.
Rubber production may reach normalcy by December, as the majority of rubber trees have defoliated and it may take nearly 60-75 days for normal operations.
As far as the cardamom sector is concerned, the diseases are getting under control and remaining rounds of cardamom harvest will be over by end December/January.
However, replanting of damaged plants may not be completed this year. The black rot identified in coffee has come under control and normal operations may be started by end October.
The plantation sector has been going through severe financial crisis due to the high cost of production and low price realisation since 2012. The majority of the plantations are struggling to raise even working capital.
The extent of current damage is so severe that the plantations have neither the financial capacity nor the economic viability at this point. Moreover whatever crop is already lost, the industry will not be able to recoup.
The majority of damage to infrastructure — both production and ancillary — has created a permanent scar on the face of plantations in Kerala.
As far as the damage to production and ancillary infrastructure is concerned, the resurrection depends on availability of funds and support from the Government as the growers individually may not be able to meet the expenditure.