Date:19/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/06/19/stories/2006061900240500.htm

Back Small tea growers seek assured price

P.S. Sundar

Reduction in sales tax of tea sought

Government asked to treat green leaf as an agricultural end-produce in the hands of the growers

Coonoor , June 18

The Nilgiris Small Tea Growers' Association has urged the Tamil Nadu Government to ask tea factories to pay Rs 10 a kg for the green lea supplied by them, while ensuring Rs 60 a kg for black tea.

The association made the plea in a representation made to the State Minister, Mr K Ramachandran.

"We have asked the Government to treat the green leaf as an agricultural end-produce in the hands of the growers and not as an industrial raw material for the factories. If this is done, the Government will automatically protect the small growers as it does in the case of other farmers," Mr T. Rangaiah, President of the Association told Business Line.

He said his Association had sought a reduction in sales tax on tea in Tamil Nadu to bring it on par with other States like Assam and West Bengal where only one per cent tax is levied.