Emphasising cropdiversification as one of the strategies to revitalise the plantation sector, the agri experts has underlined the need for considering scientific approach in crop selection.

They were speaking at a workshop — “The Plantation Sector in Kerala – the way forward” — organised by Kerala Agricultural University to address the issues being faced by the sector.

With the setting up of the Plantation Directorate in Kerala, the Industries Department assigned IIM Kozhikode to study the diversification and modernisation of plantations. Following this, IIM Kozhikode submitted a report.

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The workshop discussed the report, which proposed comprehensive reforms for the plantation sector.

B Ashok, the Agricultural Production Commissioner and Vice-Chancellor of KAU, stressed the need for considering the guidelines of a green economy while implementing diversification in the plantation sector. He emphasised the need to deliberate on the best ways to implement diversification. As a major research institution, he assured the cooperation of KAU towards this endeavour.

Highlighting the crisis being faced by the sector, APM Mohammed Haneesh, Principal Secretary (Industries) pointed out that issues such as soil degradation, problems caused by continuous mono-cropping, rising production costs, and the inability to generate alternative revenue streams or add value to products are hitting badly. There is a need for niche marketing of plantation products, he said and added that the reforms could not be achieved without considering the welfare of workers.

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The experts who spoke on the legal, economic and ecological dimensions, were in agreement with the scope of diversification, but emphasised the need for careful selection of crops. The legal complexities with respect to land tenure and human wild life conflicts were discussed in the presentation by Surjith, Divisional Officer from Kerala Forest Department.

P Indira Devi, Emeritus Professor stressed the social, ecological and economic significance of the sector. Majority of the holdings in all the four crops are small holdings. The farm income from these crops is seriously impacted by the disproportionate rise in cost of cultivation and farm gate prices, especially after the global trade agreements.

She suggested technology policy mix frame work to improve the farm income and payment for ecosystem services, as a policy instrument to augment the farm income.

The workshop came out with specific recommendations regarding the revitalisation of plantation sector.