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Plantation sector voices concern over purchase limit for subsidised fertiliser
February 18, 2021
Prasant Bhansali, president, of United Planters Association of South India×
The Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministry’s decision to fix the purchase limit of subsidised fertiliser at 200-bag per month has put the plantation industry in a mess.
According to planters, the fixation of limit per plantation is very low and has been taken without considering the sector’s needs, which would adversely impact its competitiveness. The decision comes when the industry is passing through a difficult phase due to the rise in production cost on account of high wages and input costs, they said.
Pepper imports from Sri Lanka up 10% in December, domestic growers worried
Pepper is imported duty-free by the oleoresin industry, which argues that Indian pepper is unsuitable in view of its lower oil content, a claim contested by growers. January 30, 2021 / 02:58 PM IST
A 10 percent increase in pepper imports from Sri Lanka in December has left the domestic pepper industry worried, especially at a time when there is a shortage of containers and vessels.
“In December 2020 alone, 822 tonnes of pepper were imported against 80 tonnes in December 2019. The imports came at eight percent customs duty from Sri Lanka under the SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area) and duty-free under ISFTA (Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement) with licence from the DGFT (Directorate-General of Foreign Trade,” said Kishor Shamji, Indian Pepper and Spice Traders, Growers, Planters Consortium (IPSTGPC) Coordinator.
For the last three years the winter pattern in Munnar has changed.
IDUKKI: The hill station of Munnar is experiencing a delayed winter due to change of pattern of winter season.
The normal winter season starts in November and snowfall is experienced in the first week of January. But this year, Munnar missed winter in the first week of January. However, for the past two days, there s sub zero weather here. Minus 1 degree Celsius was recorded in Latchmi estate on Thursday.
The temperature recorded at various places in Munnar on Thursday was- Letchmi estate -1, Munnar UPASI 1 and Chenduvarai 1. On Wednesday Nallathanni recorded 0 degree Celsius, Chenduvarai and Seven Malai and Silent Valley 0 degree Celsius recorded. The lowest temperature was recorded in Nallathanni Letchmi, Seven Malai and Silent Valley as 0, -1, 0 and +2 Degree Celsius respectively on Tuesday, stated the data from United Planters Association of South India (UPASI) tea research foundation.
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.