Udhagamandalam: United Planters Association of South India (Upasi) has sought the central government’s intervention to reduce the import of tea from Kenya, Nepal and Vietnam as it has been detrimental to the domestic tea sector.
In a press release issued in the town on Tuesday, Upasi said during the first quarter (Jan-Mar) of 2020, the amount of tea imported stood at 2.49 million kg while it rose to 5.96 million kg for the same period in 2021, showing a significant jump of 139.36%.
The import of tea during 2020 was estimated at 23.40 million kg as against 15.85 million kg in the previous year, an increase of 47.63%.
Plantation sector seeks higher allocation and loan rejig
January 21, 2021
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Reeling under the impact of changing weather pattern and volatile price trend, the plantation sector in South has sought higher allocation of funds for the Commodity Boards in the Budget 2021-22 for clearing the growers’ dues.
Besides, the labour-intensive sector has also sought a financial package for restructuring of loans for the coffee sector and urged the government to declare minimum support price for the plantation produce among others sops in the Budget.
Prashant Bhansali, President, United Planters Association of South India (Upasi), said the reduction in the budgetary allocation in recent years has affected the plantation sector as the Boards were not in a position to disburse the dues to the growers under various development schemes.