Plantation industry struggles for survival
The plantation sector, which employs five million people, has not benefitted from the economic boom and is "struggling for its survival", according to the chairman of a leading planters' body.
By PTI |
KOCHI: The plantation sector, which employs five million people, has not benefitted from the economic boom and is "struggling for its survival", according to the chairman of a leading planters' body.
"The plantation industry in general has been struggling for its survival during the last eight or nine years and the situation in Kerala has been more severe," V P Nambi, chairman of Association of Planters of Kerala (APK) said here on Monday.
Addressing the Annual General Meeting of APK, Nambi said 22 tea estates have been closed, while several others are just paying from the reserve money and continuing operations.
"Those bigger plantations are carrying out the operations as a prestige," he said.
The economic boom has not helped in revival of the sector and the factors leading to the crisis need to be analysed, he said.
Out of the five million people employed in the sector, 60 per cent is from weaker section, he added.
Claiming that the sector has made contributions in maintaining ecological balance, he said, the industry could claim total exemption from income tax, sales tax.
Kerala has a high stake in plantation industry in terms of the area covered and in employment potential, he said.
Over 90 per cent of the natural rubber produced in the country was from Kerala and the state has got the maximum share in spices sector, he added.
"The plantation industry in general has been struggling for its survival during the last eight or nine years and the situation in Kerala has been more severe," V P Nambi, chairman of Association of Planters of Kerala (APK) said here on Monday.
Addressing the Annual General Meeting of APK, Nambi said 22 tea estates have been closed, while several others are just paying from the reserve money and continuing operations.
"Those bigger plantations are carrying out the operations as a prestige," he said.
The economic boom has not helped in revival of the sector and the factors leading to the crisis need to be analysed, he said.
Out of the five million people employed in the sector, 60 per cent is from weaker section, he added.
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Claiming that the sector has made contributions in maintaining ecological balance, he said, the industry could claim total exemption from income tax, sales tax.
Kerala has a high stake in plantation industry in terms of the area covered and in employment potential, he said.
Over 90 per cent of the natural rubber produced in the country was from Kerala and the state has got the maximum share in spices sector, he added.
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