Kerala’s Revised Budget proposal to allow multi-crops in hilly areas and the use of more land for tourism in the plantation sector has provided hope to the crisis-gripped tea plantation sector in the Peerumade hills of Idukki.

In the Budget, the V.D. Satheesan government proposed that the State will encourage multi-cropping in hilly areas and introduce a legal amendment to support it. The Budget further stated that an amendment would be made to allow more land to be used for tourism purposes within the plantation sector. Planters and plantation associations have welcomed the proposal.

Thomas Mathew, a planter in the Peerumade hills and Managing Director of Bethel Plantations, said they welcome the government’s move. “Allowing multi-crops in plantations will ensure income and sustainability for the sector. In other States, more plantation areas are allowed for multi-cropping. If they allow nearly 10% of plantation land for multi crops, it will provide good income sustainability,” Mr. Mathew said.

He further stated that when Shibu Baby John was the Labour Minister, the Krishnan Nair Commission was appointed to study the issues facing the State’s plantation sector. “Implementing the Krishnan Nair Commission’s recommendations will trigger a revival of the plantation sector. Allowing tourism is another beacon of hope for the industry,” Mr. Mathew added.

New farming practices

Central Travancore Planters Association (CTPA) president R. Samraj said that modernisation and the introduction of new farming practices are the only ways for the century-old tea plantation sector to survive. “When multi-cropping is allowed, plantations will get an immediate income boost, which will help the industry survive. If fruit farming is permitted, value-added products will create more job opportunities in the area, helping to attract the younger generation to the sector. There are many areas with tourism potential in Peerumade, and this will help attract more people and provide a steady income to the plantations,” Mr Samraj said.

Peerumade MLA Cyriac Thomas noted that under current conditions, tea plantations cannot survive on the income from tea alone. “There is vast tourism potential in the major tea plantations situated in the Peerumade and Wagamon areas of the district. Allowing tourism and multi-cropping will ensure the sustainability of the thousands who depend on the tea plantation sector in these hills,” Mr Thomas said.

The tea plantation sector in the Peerumade hills is currently facing a deep crisis. Data from the CTPA reveals that while there were 40 active tea estates in the Peerumade hills during the 1970s, that number has now dropped to 28.