Date:28/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/05/28/stories/2005052800621000.htm

Back Upasi welcomes Centre's package for tea, coffee

Our Bureau

Kochi , May 27

UPASI has welcomed the Union Cabinet's decision to approve the coffee package and subsidy for tea.

The Upasi President, Mr Anil Kumar Bhandari, said the decision would benefit the plantation industry, especially the south Indian tea and coffee sectors.

After the huge losses during the past 3-4 years and the burden of accumulated debt, the coffee package as approved by the Cabinet would go a long way towards stabilising the coffee industry and helping more than 30,000 small and medium growers.

Upasi thanked the Union Commerce Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, for his personal stewardship in evolving a set of grants and subsidies to give a fresh impetus to tea research and to substantially convert CTC production to orthodox teas. The Cabinet's decision to give Rs 28 crore over a five-year period for tea research of Upasi and TRI Tocklai and the subsidies on orthodox production would go a long way towards stabilising the deeply troubled tea industry, he added.