“High export potential of the plantation sector”

Neeraj Gaba, Director, Plantations, Department of Commerce, said there is high export potential for plantation produce and its value-added products.

Tea exports in the last fiscal stood at 260 million kg and coffee exports were worth $1.29 billion. Spice exports grew at a CAGR of 8.9%, he said at the annual meeting of the United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) on Saturday.

While almost 50% of spice exports were value added, 38% of coffee exports were value added. Tea should also be value added.

Noting that there has been an increase in funds earmarked for all plantation sectors for the current and next financial year, he urged growers and the industry to take advantage of the new schemes approved recently for these sectors.

The annual allocation for the coffee sector, which was earlier Rs 220 crore, has been increased to Rs 300 crore due to the emphasis on mechanisation and quality improvement, a senior Coffee Board official said Indian.

Financial assistance to the tea sector under the ‘Tea Development and Promotion Scheme’ has been increased from ₹ 290.81 crore to ₹ 528.97 crore for 2024-25 and 2025-26 and the operational guidelines for the scheme were issued recently, the Tea Board official added.