Planters seek dedicated directorate, tax relief in Tamil Nadu

The Planters’ Association of Tamil Nadu has urged the State Government to establish a dedicated Plantation Directorate under the Industries Department, provide property tax relief for workers’ quarters and permit crop diversification to strengthen the plantation industry.
Addressing the association’s 73rd Annual General Meeting in Coimbatore on Saturday, Chairman Vinodhan Kandiah highlighted rising production costs, labour shortages, climate-related crop losses, fertilizer shortages and regulatory challenges.
He said wage-related expenses accounted for at least 65 per cent of production costs. He also expressed concern over a 50 per cent increase in tea imports during the first half of 2026 and sought measures to protect domestic producers.
Citing Kerala, West Bengal and Assam, Kandiah urged Tamil Nadu to bring plantations under the Industries Department. He also sought reforms to the online tea auction system to ensure fair price discovery.
He called for amendments to land laws to permit cultivation of fruits, vegetables and alternative cash crops, besides ecotourism. He sought lower property taxes on rent-free workers’ quarters and measures to improve fertilizer availability.
Kandiah raised concerns over labour welfare provisions under the new Labour Codes and urged authorities to address differences in medical benefits for tea factory and field workers. He also called for timely forest committee meetings and balanced environmental regulations.
Welcoming the designation of the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology (SACON), Anaikatti, as the nodal centre for studying human-animal conflict, he urged intensive research to protect plantation communities.
Those present included Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, Sowmya Anbumani, Bharani Kumaar, Anil Mathew, Sandeep Singh Sidhu and Pradeep Sukumar. Kandiah thanked past chairmen T. Jayaram, Prashant Bhansali, Shaker Nagarajan, C. Shreedharan and Arun Kumar, along with Ajoy Thipiah, R. Sanjith and Abishek Poddar of UPASI.