CHAPTER IV

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF THE PLANTATION SECTOR IN KERALA

CHAPTER IV

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF THE PLANTATION SECTOR IN KERALA

With nearly half the plantation area in the country and a major interest

in all the four crops-tea, coffee, rubber and cardamom-Kerala is

undoubtedly India's most important plantation state.' These plantations ensure

a better return to growers, higher revenue to the Govenunent, improved income

to workers and above all the overall development of the Kerala economy.

Arnong the various categories under the non-food grain sector, plantation crops

have recorded the maximum growth in area during the period 1976-'77 to

1995-'96 as revealed by the enormous increase in their area index from 95.04

to 181.26.' Plantations are ago-industrial undertakings regularly employing a

large number of workers and are mainly concerned with production for

comnercial purposes. With one third of Kerala's State Domestic Product (SDP)

coming from the agricultural sector, the role of plantation crops in its

;rgricultural economy may be viewed in ternls of

(i) share in cultivated area;

(ii) contribution to state agricultural income;

(iii) share of foreign exchange earnings;

(iv) contribution to the state's tax revenue; and

(v) employment potential.

I IJPASI, The Plarrtr~s' ('hrotiicle (Coonoor. AugustISeptember 1992) p.362

2. UPASI, Plarller :s /);rectory (Coonoor, September 1996) p. 1

F'lpre 4. I Kerala-The Important State in the Plantation Map of India

Source: UPASI.

4.1 Share in Cultivated Area

Kerala accounts for about 46 per cent of the total area under plantations

in ~ n d i a . ~ The crop-wise break up in terms of area and production is shown in

Table 4.1.

Table 4.1

Place of Kerala in India's Plantation Map (1995-'96)

Type of Area (Hectares) Production (Tonnes) crop Kerala India Kerala India

Tea 34,656 4,30,888 64,794 7,49,888

Coffee 82,348 2,92,467 40,400 2,00,000

Rubber 4,43,300 5,15,572 4.76,495 5,06,910

Cardamom 43,320 83,700 4,185 6,338

Source: (a) State Planning Board, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram (b) Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Thiruvananthapuram.

It is evident from the table that rubber cultivation in Kerala forms b5.98 per

cent of the total area under rubber in the country. Kerala's rubber production is

94 per cent of the total rubber production in India. Cardamom also occupies a

prominent place in the matter of area and production. Kerala accounts for 5 1.76

per cent of the area and 66 per cent of the production of cardamom in the

country.

Based on Table 4.1, Figures 4.2 and 4.3 give a diagrammatic

representation of the area and production of plantation crops in Kerala

respectively .

3 . Economic Review, op. cit., 1997, p. 48

Figure 4 2 Area Under Plantation Crops in India and Kerala (1995-'96)

Tea Coffee Rubber Cardamom

Type of crop

Source: Table 4.1

Figure 3.3 Production of Plantation Crops in India and Kerala (1995-'96)

Kerala

Tea Coffee Rubber Cardamom

Type of crop

Source: Table 4.1

4.1.1 Share in Net Cultivated Area

Plantation crops account for about 27 per cent of the net cultivated area

in eral la.^ The details are shown in Table 4.2.

Table 4.2

Area under plantation crops vis-a-vis total cultivated area in Kerala (area in '000 hect.)

Year Plantat~ons Total for Total Plantations Cultivated

Tea Coffee Rubber Cardamom m Kerala area in Kerala

1995-'96 35 82 443 43 603 2,263

Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Thi~vananthapuram.

Figure 4.4 shows the area under plantation crops during the period

1990-'91 to 1995-'96.

F~gure X -I Area Under Plantution Crops - in Kerala (1990-'91 tg 1995'94)

- . Tea coffee Rubber Cardamom Total

Type of Crop

Source: Table 4.2

Among the four crops, lubber accounts for the largest share in the net

cultivated area in Kerala.

4.2 Contribution to State Agricultural Income

The State's Income fiom all the sectors in 1995-'96 is Rs. 7,018 crores.

The contribution of agricultural sector to the state income is Rs. 2,365 crores.

The plantation crops account for Rs. 723.69 ~ r o r e s . ~

Table 4.3 shows the share of tea, coffee, rubber and cardamom in State

Agricultural Income.

Table 4.3

Share of Plantations in State Agricultural Income (1995'96) - -

S1. No Type of crop Percentage share in Agricultural SDP

1 Tea 6.4

2 Coffee 3.0

3 Rubber 18.7

4 Cardamom 2.5

Total 30.6

Source: UPASI. Coonoor

Crop-wise, rubber accounts for 18.7 per cent followed by tea (6.4

per cent), coffee (3 per cent) and cardamom (2.5 per cent) in the agricultural

income of the state. Figure 4.5 provides a diagrammatic illus!~%tion of

Table 4.3 .

5 . Ibid., compliled from various tables.

Figure 4.5 Share of Plantations in State Agricultural Income (1995-'96)

Tea Coffee Rubber Cardamom

Type of crop

Source: Table 4.3.

4.3 Share of Foreign Exchange Earnings

All the plantation crops, except rubber, earn remarkable foreign

exchange. Rubber, on the other hand, is an important import substitute. State's

export earnings from different crops are shown in Table 4.4.

Table 4.4

Contribution of Plantation Crops to the State's Foreign Exchange Earnings (1991-'92 to 1995-'96)

Tea Coffee Small Cardamom

Year Quantity Value (Rs. Quantity Value(in Quantity Value (Tomes) lakhs) (Tomes) Rs. lakhs) (Tomes) (Rs.

l u )

Source: (a) Tea Board, Calcutta. (b) Coffee Board, Bangalore. (c) Spices Board, Kochi

Refer Figure 4.6 for a diagrammatic representation of the contribution of

plantation crops to the foreign exchange earnings of the state in 1995.96.

r e 6 Contribution qf Plantation Crops to the Foreign Exclrunge Earning of Kerala (1995'96)

I

Tea Coffee Cardamom

Type of crop

Source: Table 4.4.

4.4 Contribution to the State's Tax Revenue

Contribution of plantation crops to the state's tax revenue is an

important indicator of the economic significance of this sector.

Table 4.5 shows the details of the Centre-State break up of the various

taxes from the Plantation sector to the State Govenunent. I

,A varlety of taxes ;inti duties to the Central and State Ciovcrnlnents are

being paid by the plantation sector. The Central Sales Tax is levied under the

Central Act and collected by the State Government. The entire amount comes

to the State Treasury. A portion of the Central Income Tax and Excise duty

also goes to the State Revenue. The most important areas of taxation of Kerala

Government are (i) State Sales TdPurchase Tax (ii) Agricultural Income Tax

and (iii) Plantation Tax.

Table 4.5

Duties and Taxes Paid by Plantations

Centre State

1. Central income tax 1. Agricultural income tax

2. Cess under Commodity Acts 2. Land tax

3 . Excise duty 3. Plantation tax

4. Central sales tax 4. State sales tax/Purchase tax

5 . Factory license fee 5. Building tax

6. Land cess

7. Machinery license fee

8. Professional tax

9. Service tax

Source: (a) Directorate of Economics and Statistics, op cit

(b) UPASI, op. cil.

4.5 Employment in the Pla~itation Sector

A striking characteristic of plantation agriculture is that it is labour

intensive. The four crops account for about 21 per cent of the agricultural

employment in the state.' Table 4.6 shows that plantations in Kerala provide

permanent employment to over 3.6 lakh workers throughout the year.7

Table 4.6

Average daily employment in plantations in Kerala (no. of persons) (1995-'96)

Plantation No. of labourers

Tea

Coffee 24,385 (7)

Rubber 2,30,000 (64)

Cardamom 22,000 (6)

Total 3,60,330

Source: (a) State Planning Hoard, op ci! (b) UPASI, op cit

Fibures in parenthesis indicate the percentage of workers in each plantation

Based on this table, Figure 4.7 shows the percentage of average daily

employment in the four crops.

6. PInn!er 's 1)irector): 011 ci!., 7.

7. Ibid.

I*'/gzrre 4.7 Average Dailq' l?mployment in Plantations in Kerala (1995-'96)

23.00%

64.00%

n ~ e a a Coffee [3 Rubber Cardamom

Source Table 4.6.

In Kerala, rubber plantations employ the largest number of workers

followed by tea, coffee and cardaniom.

4.6 Plantation Crops in Kerala's Economy

A study of the relative share of plantations in terms of the net cultivated

area, state domestic product, foreign exchange earnings to the country, tax

revenue and employment potential reveals the importance of this sector in

Kerala. Table 4.7 shows the sibpificance of this sector to the state's economy.

Table 4.7

Plantation Crops in Kerala's Economy (1995-'96)

Type of Share in net Share in agric- Share in Share in cultivated area ultural SDP country's crop emp\oyment

export earnings

(Percentage)

Tea 1.9 6.4 6.9 4.6

Coffee 3.8 3.0 13.2 3.0

Rubber 18.7 18.7 Nil 11.7

Cardamom 2.5 2.5 80.0 1.6

All Crops 26.9 30.6 9.8 20.9

Source (a) UPASI, op ci/

(b) Directorate of Economic and Statistics, op. crl.

Though export ea~nings from rubber is nil, its importance in our

economy is evident from the share it occupies in net cultivated area, in

agricultural SDP and in employment generation. Export earnings to the country

are the largest from cardamom, i.e., 80 per cent. Coffee comes next to

cardamom (13.2 per cent). Though the share of tea in net cultivated area is

only 1.9 per cent, it contributes substantially to agricultural SDP (6.4 per cent),

export earnings (6.9 per cent) and employment (4.6 per cent).

4.7 Growth of Plantations in Kerala

Tables 4.8, 4.9, 4.10 and 4.11 give details about the growth of tea,

coffee, rubber and cardamom in telms of area and production in Kerala.

Table 4.8 and Figure 4.8 provide statistics relating to the area and

production of tea plantations in Kerala during the period 1950-1996.

70

Table 4.8 I

Growth of Tea Plantations in Kerala (1950-1996)

Year Area (Hectares) Production (Tonnes)

Source: Computed from the data published by

( I ) Hutidbook ofl'lru~la~ion I.uct.s, UPASI, Coonoor, 1990 ( 2 ) Tea Board, Calcutta.

Figure 4.8 Growth of Tea Plantations in Kmala (Area and Production) (1950-1995)

- 60000 V) a, c S = smw S .- CI 0 4 40000

2 P

Year

Source: Table 4.8

It is evident that area under tea remains more or less static but output has

increased during the same period.

The growth of coffee plantations in Kerala is shown in Table 4.9. The

same is shown diagramatically in Figure 4.9.

Table 4.9

Growth of Coffee Plantations in Kerala (1950-1996) , Year Area ('000 Hectares) Production (Tonnes)

1950-'5 1 13,792 1,173

- ~ ~ - ~ ~~ -~

Source: Computed from the data published by (a) Handbook of Plantat~on Facts, op cit. (b) Coffee Board, Bangalore

Figure 4.9 Growth of Coffee Plantations in Kerala (Area and Production) (1 950-1 995)

Year

Source: Table 4.9

It is clear from the table and figure, that on the whole, area under coffee

and output of coffee are on an increase in Kerala during the period 1950-1996,

though there are slight variations.

Table 4.10 gives the iuea and production figures relating to rubber in

Kerala during the period 1955'-'56 to 1995-'96

Table 4.10

Growth of Rubber Plantations in Kerala (1955-'56 to 1995-'96)

Year Area ('000 Hectares) Production ( T o m )

1955-'56 78,457 21,680

1960-'61 1,22,628 23,175

1965-'66 1,54,878 46,953

1970-'71 1,87,762 86,773

1975-'76 2,05,383 1.28.769

1980-'8 1 2,47,100 1,40,320

198 1 -'82 2,62,600 1.39.435

1982-33 2,78,000 1,52,662 1

1983-'84 2,94,300 1.62.212

1984-'85 3,12,000 1.72.092

1985--86 3,26,700 1,84,563

1986-'87 3,43,200 2,02,129

1987-'88 3,55,400 2,16,562

1988-'89 3,66,500 2,38,414

1989-'90 3,76,000 2,75,397

1990-'9 I 3,84,000 3,07,521

199 1 -'92 4,19,174 3,43,109

1992-'93 4,28,864 3,68,@8

1993-'94 4,37,138 4,08,311

1994-'95 4,43,300 4,42,830

1995-'96 4,43,300 4,76,495

Source: Computed fiom the data published by (a) Handbook ofPlantatron Facts, op cit (b) Rubber Board, Kottaym.

Area under rubber plantation has shown a tremendous increase from

78,457 hectares in 1955-'56 to 4,43,300 hectares in 1995-'96 resulting in an

increase of 465 per cent. Production also has increased from 21,680 tomes in

1955-'56 to 4,76,495 tomes in 1995-'96 leading to 2,098 per cent increase in

output during the period.

Figure 4.10 also presents the growth of area and production of rubber in

Kerala.

Figure -1.10 Growth of Rubber Plantations in Kerala (1955-'56 to 1995-'96)

Year

Source: Table 4.10

The growth of cardamom plantations in Kerala from 1960-'61 to

1995-'96 is shown in Table 4.1 1.

Table 4.11

Growth of Cardamom Plantations in Kerala (1960-'61 to 1995'96)

Year Area ('000 Hectares) Production (Tonnes)

1989-'90 44 1,900

1990-'9 1 44 2,885

1991-'92 44 2,770 I

1992-'93 43 2,424

1993-'94 43 4,430

1994-'95 43 4.43 1

1995-'96 43 4,185

Source: Computed from the data published by

(a) Ha?idhook of l'ltrtrlation Facts, op cit. (b) Spices Board, Kochi.

It is clear from the table that area under cardamom cultivation has been

increasing till 1988-'89 after which a decrease in area is taking place. There are

irregular variations in production figures also during the period 1960-'61 to

1995-'96. Figure 4.11 also reveals this.

figure 4. 11 Growth of Cardamom Plantations in Keralu (1960-'61 to 1995-'96)

MOO

3500

Year

Source: Table 4.1 1

4.8 Small Growers in the Plantation Sector

There is predominance of small growers in the plantation sector. Table

4.12 reveals the share of small growers in the production of plantation crops in

South India.

Table 4.12

Small Growers' Share in the Production of Plantation Crops in South India (1995-'96)

-- -- --

No of small Total production Produrnon of Produdon of Crop growers from South small growers small growers to

(Tomes) (Tomes) total (per cent)

Tea 40,000 1,82,000 40,000 22 0

Coffee 1,30,000 2,00,000 1,20,000 60.0

Rubber 8,00,000 5,07,000 4,05,600 80.0

Cardamom 30,000 7,500 6,750 90 0

Source: UPASI, op. cit,

In cardamom and rubber, small growers predominate the production,

90 per cent and 80 per cent respectively. Sixty per cent of the output of coffee

is contributed by small growers. There is the predominance of large holdings in

tea and hence share of production of small growers is only 22 per cent.

Refer Figure 4.12 for a diagrammatic representation of the details shown

in Table 4.12.

figure -1. I2 Share of Smull Growers in the Production of Pluntation Crops in South India (1995-'96)

Tea Coffee Rubber Cardamom

Type of crop

Source: Table 4.12,

XO

4.9 Tea

Tea is of greater significance to Kerala because of the high land

productivity, relative to other crops, export earnings and employment in rural

and backward areas.

4.9.1 Area

Among all the tea producing countries of the world, India has the largest

acreage under the crop. Major tea growing regions are located in Assam and

West Bengal in North India and Tamil Nadu and Kerala in South India. The

total area under the crop is 4,30,888 hectares of which South India accounts for

85,100 hectares which constitutes 20 per cent.' In South India tea is mainly

grown in Nilgiris, Anamallais, Kaman Devan Hills and over the slopes of

mountains stretching down to the plains of Kerala. Table 4.13 shows the

State-wise distribution of tea planted areas in the South.

Table 4.13

Tea Plantation Areas in the South (in hectares) (1995'96)

State Area Percentage

Tamil Nadu

Kerala

Karnataka

Total 85,100 100

Source: UPASI, op. cit.

Fi y e 4.13 provides a visual presentation of the details in Table 4.13.

8. Ibid., p.1.

Figure 4.13 Tea Plantation Areas in South India (1995-'96)

Kerala . Karnataka ~arni l Nadu

Source: Table 4.13.

Both the table and the figure show clearly that, of the three South Indian

states, tea is concentrated in Tamil Nadu followed by Kerala and Kamataka.

Between 1950 and 199:j, tea acreage went up by 5.5 per cent in Kerala,

that is, fiom 32,849 hectares to 34,656 hectares.

4.9.2 Production

Between 1950 and 1995, tea output in Kerala went up from 22,298

tonnes to 64,794 tonnes, an increase of 191 per cent.' Although tea production

in the state has increased over the years, it has been at a lower rate. As a result,

share of Kerala in the South Indian tea market has shrunk. ,

4.9.3 Productivity

Between 1950 and 1995, there was an increase in yield from

900 to 1880 kg/hectare.'" In spite of the marked improvement in productivity in

Kerala, it is still substantially lower than that in Tamil Nadu. Partly this could

be attributed to agronomical factors such as soil erosion, heavy monsoon,

periodic drought and frost.

4.9.4 Structure of Tea Plantations

Most of the tea plantations in Kerala are in Idukki district. Cultivation of

tea is carried on by large and small growers.

Although there are thousands of tea estates in India with a number of

small growers, over the years tea plantations have emerged as a corporatised

activity.

- 9. Ibid.

10. Ibid.. p. 3 .

4.10 Coffee

Coffee is another plantation crop of national imponance cultivated in I I

Kerala. The state accounts for 28 per cent of the counhy's area under coffee.

2.10.1 Area

Robusta and Arabica are two main varieties of coffee. Kerala is a major

Robusta growing belt and has the largest area under this variety. The area

under Arabica has stagnated around 3400 hectares whereas notable expansion

has taken place in Robusta cultivdtion. Total area under coffee in Kerala has

increased from 13,792 hectares in 1950-'51 to 82,348 hectares in 1995-'96.12

As a result, Kerala's share in the country's total coffee area has gone up from

15 to 28 per cent."

4.10.2 Production

Coffee production tends to v'ary widely from year to year; a high

cropping season is followed by a low yielding year. The fluctuation is seen

more in the Robusta variety largely grown in Kerala. Coffee production in

Kerala has been rising annually. It was 39,000 tomes in 1994-'95 and 40,400

tonnes in 1995-'96.

The share of Kerda in the country's total coffee production is 20.2 per

cent in 1995-'96'''

1 1. UPASI, 1997. 12. Ibid. 13. Ibid. 14. Ibid.

4.10.3 Productivity

Despite the state yield in Robusta increasing from 225 kghectare in

1955'56 to 520 kg/hectare in 1995-'96, it is less than 40 per cent of that

available in Karnataka. influenced to a large extent by the concentration of

small holdings in eral la.' '

4.10.4 Structure of Coffee Plantations

In the coffee economy of the country, small growers play an important

role. There are 1,28,324 coffee holdings/estates in India of which 1,20,200 are

below 10 hectares. Ninety-four per cent of India's coffee growers are s~nall

and marginal growers. Generally. small growers (owning up to 10 hectares)

account for 53 per cent of the coffee area and 48 per cent of the

In Kerala there are 77,073 units of which 75,559 units are below

10 hectares." Nearly 82 per cent of the area under coffee in the state is in I

Wayanad district.

4.11 Rubber

Natural Rubber occupies the prime position in Kerala among plantation

crops. In area expansion and increased production, rubber leads all other

agricultural crops. Kerala accour~ts for about 85.98 per cent of the country's

rubber area and 94 per cent of the national production in India. The rubber

1 5 . Government of India, Ei:or~omic Survey (New Delhi, 1995) p. 48.

16. UPASI, 1997.

17. Ibid.

manufacturing industry in the state accounts for only 15 per cent of the natural

rubber production in era la.''

4.11.1 Area

There has been a striking increase in the area under rubber in Kerala

having gone up from 78,457 hectares in 1955-'56 to about 4,43,300 hectares in

1995-'96. It is worth mentioning that 85.98 per cent of the country's area

expansion during the above period has taken place in ~ e r a 1 a . l ~

Rubber production between 1955-'56 to 1995-'96 registered a

remarkable annual growth rate of over 15 per cent which is the highest

compared to the other agricultural crops in the country. Rubber production in

Kerala in 1995-'96 is 4,76,495 tonnes which is over 20 times that of 1960.

It was 23,175 tonnes in 1960.

4.1 1.3 Productivity

Apart &om area expansion, the improvement in productivity per hectare

has also contributed significantly to the increase in production. Rubber has I

registered the highest rate of growth in productivity among all the agricultural

crops in the country.

18. Land Resources of Kerala Sttrte, op cit., 1996, p. 149.

19. The Planrers ' Chronicle, op cit., June 1997, p. 128.

20. Ibid.

4.11.4 Structure of Rubber Plantations

Though rubber cultivation was mainly in the large grower sector

(20 hectares and above) in the initial stage, later small growers entered this

field and the area under them exceeded the area of estates. At present,

90 per cent of the area and 85 per cent of the production are accounted for the

small holders. Now there are about 8,00,000 small holdings." In Kerala,

rubber is mainly cultivated in Kottayam district.

4.12 Cardamom

Kerala has the largest stake in cardamom, as in the case of rubber.

Cardamom (small) is grown i n the three Southern States of Kerala, Karnataka

and Tamil Nadu. Presently there are 40,530 growers and the total area under

the crop is about 81,000 hectares." Small holdings up to 8 hectares account for -

98 per cent of the holdings covering 62 per cent of the area.

4.12.1 Area

In Kerala, area under cardamom is 43,320 hectares in 1995-'96. Kerala

accounts for about 52 per cent of the area under small cardamom in India.23

4.12.2 Production

Among the plantation crops, cardamom production is greatly influenced I

by climatic conditions and is also most susceptive to attack by pests and

21. Ibid., p. 5 .

22. Planfers' Directory, op cit., p. 7 .

23. E;cotiomic Review, op. cil., p. 47.

diseases. Kerala accounts for 66 per cent of the country's total productio~l of

cardamom, which is 4,185 tonnes in 1995-'96.

4.12.3 Productivity

The plant being highly susceptible to weather and diseases, yield has

been at a relatively low level of 80 kghectare in comparison to the yield level

of 250 kghectare of the principal competitor, Guatemala. Thanks to the new

varieties identified and propagated through biotechnology, the crop has

registered substantial improvement in productivity in recent years. The average

productivity which was hovering around 80 kghectare during the last two

decades has nearly doubled during the last two years.24

4.12.4 Structure of Cardamom Plantations

Small growers dominate the cardamom plantations. Cardamom has

among the plantation crops, lowest economic life requiring more frequent

replanting. In Kerala, cardamom is mainly cultivated in Idukki district.

4.13 Growth of Plantation Crops from 1991-'92 to 1995-'96

Table 4.14 shows the statistics of consolidated data on the area,

production and productivity covering all the four plantation crops from

1991-'92 to 1995'96.

24. Ibid.

Table 4.14

Plantation Crops-Area, Production, Productivity (1991-'92 to 1995'96)

199 1-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96

Kerala Ind~a Kerala India Kerala India Kerala Inda Kerala Ind~a

Area (Hectares)

Tea 34,708 4,20,500 34,488 4,22,592 34,624 4,22,432 34,656 4,24,469 34,656 4,30,888

Rubber 4,19,174 4,88,514 4,28,864 4,99,374 4,37,138 5,08,420 4,43,300 5,15,572 4,43,300 5,15,572

Cardamom 44,008 81,113 43,386 81,113 43,456 81,113 43,320 81,113 43,320 81,113

Production (TOM~SS)

Tea 66,803 7,54,192 54,435 7,03,93 1 66,691 7,58,063 65,141 7,43,780 64,794 7,49,888

Coffee 30,960 1,80,000 36,170 1,61,500 43,472 2,08,000 39,000 1,80,000 40,400 2,00,000

Rubber 3,43,109 3,66,745 3,68,648 3,93,490 4,08,311 4,35,160 4,42,830 4,71,815 4,76,495 5,06,910

Cardamom 3,460 5,000 2,424 3,000 4,430 6,600 4.43 1 7,000 4,185 6,338

Productivitv (Kd3a. l

Tea 1,925 1,794 1,578 1,666 1,926 1,795 1,880 1,752 1,780 1,750

Coffee 466 80 1 43 1 597 655 936 589 788 595 922

Rubber 1,139 1,130 1,203 1,154 1,304 1,285 1,389 1,362 990 912

Cardamom 79 62 56 37 136 108- 145 113 155 120 Source: Computed from

(a) Farm Guide, Government of India, 1996. (b) UPASI, Coonoor (c) Rubber Board, Kottayam.

89

Of the four, plantation area under rubber has marked an increase from

4,19,174 hectares in 1991-'92 to 4,43,300 hectares in 1995-'96 resulting in

5.76 per cent. Area under tea has declined by 0.15 per cent during the sane

period as there was a decline from 34,708 hectares in 1991-'92 to 34,656

hectares in 1995'96. Coffee also showed a 2 per cent decline in area between

1991-'92 and 1995-'96 as the decline in area was firom 84,016 hectares to

82,348 hectares during this period. Area under cardamom is also showing a

declining trend. In 1991-92 the area under cardamom was 44,008 hectares. But

in 1995-'96 it has declined to 43,320 hectares leading to 1.6 per cent decline.

In the production front also rubber has marked a spectacular increase of

38.9 per cent during the period 1991-'92 to 1995-'96. Coffee and cardamom

production have also increased by 30.5 per cent and 21 per cent respectively

during the same period. But production of tea declined from 66,803 tonnes in

1991-'92 to 64,794 tonnes in 1995-'96 resulting in 3 per cent decline. I

Cardamom has showed a marked increase in productivity, i.e.,

96 per cent during the same period. Productivity of coffee also has increased

by 27.7%. Productivity of rubber and tea has declined by 13 per cent and

7.5 per cent respectively during the five year period 1991-'92 to 1995-'96.

4.14 Plantation Crops in the Different Districts of Kerala

The largest area under tea plantations are in Idukki, followed by

Wayanad and Kottayam. Figure 4.14 shows this. Coffee is concentrated in

Wayanad, other major coffee growing districts being Idukki and Palakkad.

Refer FigLre 4.15 for the details. Kottayam has the lion's share of rubber

plantations in Kerala, followed by Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Idukki. Area

under rubber in these districts are shown in Figure 4 16. Idukki has the largest

area under cardamom followed by Wayanad, Palakkad and Kozhikode districts.

Figure 4.17 gives the area in these districts.

Figure 4.14 Major Tea Plaiztation Districts of Kerala (1995- '96) (Area in hectares)

ldukki wayanad Kottayam .m Kollam

Source: Table 2.3.

Figure 4.15 Major Coffee PIarztation Districts of Kerala (1995-'96) (Area in hectares)

wayanad ldukki 1 Palakkad

Source: Table 2.3

Figure 4.16 Major Rubber Plantation Districfi of Kerala (1995- 96) (Area in hectares)

Kottayam ldukki Ernakulam Pathanamthitta

Source Table 2 3

Figure 4.17 Major Cardamom l'lantation Districts of Kerala (1995- '96) (Area in hectares)

wayanad ldukki Palakkad . Kozhikode .

Source: Table 2.3

4.15 Women Workers in the Pla,ntation Sector

The plantation sect(,, eniplol/s a large number of women. This sector

provides significant emplo.:ment opportunities to about 1.25 lakh wornen

workers.

Table 4.15 shows ,!le percmtage of female labour to total labour

employed in these four crops.

Table 4.15

Employment of Women in Plantations (1995-'96)

Plantation No: of women ~~~~l labourers Percentage of female worker:; - labour to total labour

Tea 47.009 83,945 56

Coffee 11,217 24,385 46

Rubber 57,500 2,30,000 25

Cardamom 7,260 22,000 3 3

Source: UPASI, Coonoor

The table shows clearly that women workers constitute 56 per cent of

the total labour force in tea plantatiola. Women workers in coffee plantations

accounts to 46 per cent of total employment. Cardamom plantations occupy

the third position in female eniplqyment with 33 percentage. Twenty-five

per cent of the labour in rubber plantations are females. The employment of

women in the four plantations is shown in Figure 4.18.

Figure -1.18 Employment of Women in the Plantation Sector of Keralu (1 995-'96)

Tea Coffee Rubber Cardamom

Type of crop

Source: Table 4.15.

4.16 Plantation Labour Compared t o Other Agricultural Labour

Plantation labour, unlike other industries, is open air work and is a

special kind of agricultural employnent. It is for this reason, obviously that

women are employed in large numbers in the estates than in factories. The

work is unskilled and women from villages are far more used to this form of

employment than working as skilled hands in other industries.

A peculiar feature of plantation labour, especially those in tea, coffee

and cardamom is that plantation labour is recruited on a family basis from

distant villages as most of the estates are situated in remote places of high

altitudes where workers are not easily available. As a settled labour force is

essential, whole families are usuall!~ employed. As wages are lower than in

other agncultural jobs, every memb8:r of the family seeks work for economic

reasons. Women are also paid less than men and are therefore employed in

large numbers.

A distinguishing feature of plantations workers, compared to other

agncultural workers, is that they earn a regular income to support the family.

They are one of the most organrsed labour force of the economy Moreover,

the mechanisation of the worlts ill plantations do not pause a threat of

unemployment to these women workers, as the scope of mechanisation is

limited in our state. The socio-economic background of the plantation workers

also differ from their counterparts m other crops. They are from different

social, racial and cultural groups, each following their own entity.

The most important job on a tea estate is plucking of tea leaves. The

harvesting of tea leaves from the bushes in plantation goes by the name of

plucking. This is done by careful1.y snapping off the tender shoot between the

thumb and first fmger. Basically, the harvest is of a bud and the two tender

leaves below it because this is where the highest concenhation of flavour

producing chemical is The timing of plucking operation has therefore to be

geared to the rate of growth of the new shoots, which of course varies fiom

season to season. Plucking, although an apparently simple job, requires a

certain degree of skill and great attention.

Two-thirds of the total number of labour-days in tea plantations are

ordinarily devoted to plucking,. Women are usually employed in plucking tea

leaves, because they are considered cleverer than men in this job. In fact, the

plucking of tea leaves is the exclusive occupation of women because a skilled

leaf picker is usually a wcrmar., needing little supervision in her work. I

Moreover, some facts stand out which favours the employment of women.

Women are obviously more isteatly workers and they are also more regular.

The maternal instinct also seems to be exploited. For the sake of keeping their

children fed, they are less likely to risk their jobs by absenteeism.

Again by making the wifr: a permanent worker, her husband is kept

permanently available for work as and when there is demand. The children can

also be drawn upon for cheap labour.

The data on the total num1)er of persons employed in the tea estates in

Kerala and Tamil Nadu show that women workers outnumber men. Women

are also employed in weeding and replanting. A few women are given job in

the factories also.

In coffee plantations, plucking of coffee bemes is a job where women

are preferred to men. They are also employed in kmvath, planting, weeding and

separating seeds. Manuring is also (lone by women workers.

In cardamom plantations. collection of ripe cardamom seeds, separating

the stalks of the seeds, weeding and replanting are the female jobs.

The major job undertaken by women in rubber plantations is collection

of field latex from the rubber trees. They also assist the men in tapping the

trees. They have a complementary role in rubber estates.

4.17 Recruitment System

During the pre-independent period, recruitment in the plantations of

South India was through the intermediaries called kangan~s, who were

themselves erstwhile workers in the gardens. Because of their contacts or

ability to work or get work done, they were engaged to bring labour for whlch

they recelved a cornmisslon from the workers they brought. A distindt feature

of recruitment was that the unit of recruitment was the family and not the

individual.

Though the system of recruitn~ent through kanganis was abolished and

lost its importance during the post-independent period, it still continues in

certain estates. Many estates have settled labour of a generation or more, and

on that account, local labour is avail;xble for recruitment. A large number of

workers are employed as casual labour or through contractors. As permanent

workers usually reside on the estates, they are in a position to introduce their

unemployed relatives whenever vac:ancies occur. Those who have worked as

casual labourers are given preference in recruitment as permanent workers.

Trade unions and their leaders have a say in recruiting new labourers.