PRICE
STABILISATION FOR CASH CROPS
There is a project worth Rs.
300 crore or more for price stabilization and other matters in
relation to rubber, coffee, tea, spices, etc., under consideration
of the government. Operation of a Price Stabilisation Fund is
a new concept requiring in depth assessment of complexities in
consultation with many agencies such as producers, processors,
exporters and financial institutions like NABARD, commercial banks
and economic experts. It will also depend upon participation by
willing producers who will be required to contribute to the Fund
when prices of commodities are favourable and who will benefit
when the prices are low. This was stated by Shri Rajiv Pratap
Rudy, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, in a written
reply in the Lok Sabha today.
In another reply, Shri Rudy
said the Tea Board has stressed the need for improvement in productivity
of tea in Darjeeling with quality improvement through long-term
development measures and through improved manufacturing techniques.
A Techno Economic Survey of Darjeeling Tea Industry was undertaken
by the Tea Board during 1998-99 to look into the various problems
of Darjeeling Tea industry based on an on-the-spot study of suitably
selected sample gardens. The main problems identified were over-aged
bushes, low productivity, declining profitability, lack of uprooting
and replanting, top soil erosion, lack of adequate finance etc.
The recommendations made in the Survey include extension of planting
& replanting, suitable infilling programmes, uprooting and
replanting programme in low yielding estates, rejuvenation and
consolidation with inter – row planting, judicious application
of herbicides, adoption of latest R & D in field and cultural
practices for qualitative upgradation and growth of production,
upgradation of processing and packaging machinery, measures to
enhance labour productivity, greater emphasis on essential field
operations specially in small tea estates and improvement of basic
infrastructural facilities. It has also recommended that generic
promotion of Darjeeling tea in India should be initiated to increase
domestic consumption of such teas. A sample of 46 tea estates
representing 54% of the total number of tea estates were chosen
for the purpose of the Survey. The sample was done by statistical
method with proportional representation of various holding sizes
and status of ownership. The Survey revealed that on an average,
49% of the total grant area was available for cultivation.
