Plantation Crisis Hits Kerala Farmers; Planters seek govt nod to use 5% land for alternative uses

KOCHI: The planters in Kerala have sought permission from the government to utilise 5 per cent of land for alternative uses besides encouragement for cultivation of cocoa to tide over the crisis in cash crops in the state which has pushed many estates on the verge of closure due to mounting losses.

The Association of Planters of Kerala has requested the state government to remove anomalies in the land laws to facilitate flexibility in cultivation of any plantation crop.

"The soil and agro-climatic conditions in Kerala are well suited for cocoa cultivation and as per reports there will be a huge shortage of cocoa as the demand for chocolates is set to increase in geometric proportion in the coming years," said APK chairman C Vinayaraghavan. Kerala is one of the major producers of cocoa in the country.

The plantation standing committee meeting held last year under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had prom ised to repeal the tax structure and allow utilisation of 5% of land for activities other than plantations to augment the income of growers.

None of the promises has been fulfilled, Vinayaraghavan said.

The prices of RSS 4 variety of rubber, at about Rs 110 per kg, and of RSS 5 at about Rs 100 per kg are the lowest since 2010, making it difficult for the medium and large growers to continue operations. In the case of tea, the average price in Kochi auctions is at about Rs 96 per kg while the average cost of production in the state is Rs 125 per kg.