Kamal Nath for competitiveness study on plantation

New Delhi, July 10 (UNI) Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath today said the ministry will conduct a long-term competitiveness study on the plantation sector to bring it at par with global standards.

''The global study would be conducted by a credible institution, comprising of appointed members from the ministry and the plantation sector, to review and analyse its growth prospects,'' Mr Nath said after his interaction with the tea board members here.

Mr Nath said the ministry is looking forward to re-plantation with the thrust on the tea and coffee segment.

The study would review the present situation of the sector covering factors like the cost of production, competitiveness and yield.

The Secretary General of the Indian Tea Association M Das Gupta informed that the yield in countries like Vietnam and Brazil was higher than India. ''The study will review why the yield in the plantation sector, especially tea, is lower than these countries.

It will open doors to exploring new ways of higher production.'' Mr Gupta said the prices of tea will not rise much in the future.

''Though the tea prices have gone up by Rs 550 per kg in the north between Jan-May, the south saw a minimal rise of Rs 2 per kg.'' The minister also hinted that the ministry was thinking over starting packaging in food for the farmers to get a better price in the market.

However, he declined to comment on the commencement of the study and the body to be involved in it.

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