Farmers on edge as Tea Board delays subsidy disbursals

Udhagamandalam: Small tea farmers in the Nilgiris are miffed as the Tea Board of India (south) is yet to disburse subsidies provided under various schemes like setting up sprinklers and pruning of tea plants. They said non-issuance of subsidies for the past two years shows the lethargic attitude of the board.
K Murthi, a small tea farmer from Karimora village near Coonoor, said, “As per the guidelines of Tea Board, I had set up sprinklers in my tea garden spread over 1.26 hectares. I had spent Rs 1.66 lakh and submitted an application seeking subsidy along with the bills in August 2017. However, the subsidy amount of around Rs 1 lakh, which I am eligible, is yet to be disbursed.” As per the scheme, an incentive of Rs 80,000 is given per hectare.

Farmers are also waiting for disbursal of subsidies for pruning and other activities carried out in tea gardens. “As small tea farmers don’t get good price for green leaf tea, we could not get enough money by selling the yield. So, we depend on subsidies to carry out maintenance works and if we don’t get subsidies in time, we borrow money,” said L Krishnan, another small tea farmer.

Admitting to the pending applications for irrigation subsidy, C Paulrasu, executive director of Tea Board of India (south), told TOI irrigation subsidy of tea gardens falls under the 12th plan. “The government of India is yet to release the funds. Once we get the funds, we will disperse them to farmers,” he added.

Around 45,000 small tea farmers cultivating about a total of one lakh acres in the Nilgiris are registered with the Tea Board. They are already complaining about low price given for green leaf tea.