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PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
Coonoor, Sept 8: The United Planters Association of South India (Upasi) has expressed shock over the Union government's decision to allow free import of all plantation crops from Saarc countries and said it would affect the domestic plantation industry.
The four plantation crops are tea, coffee, rubber and cardamom. Delivering the inaugural address at Upasi's 105th annual conference, Upasi President A D Chandrasekar, said the tea industry was already facing a problem of low prices. Import of this commodity from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh would only worsen the situation, he said.
Upasi had requested the Finance Ministry to withdraw the 8 per cent ad-valorem excise duty on tea. Use of tea would have to be promoted in the domestic market to sustain domestic prices at remunerative levels.
The tea board would be asked to chalk out promotional campaigns, funds for which could be got from the cess collected from tea, he said.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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