Building a Wider
Horizon With Labour
Small tea growers are likely to benefit from the creation of the Rs 5,000-crore micro irrigation fund by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) for farmers. "A dedicated micro irrigation fund will be set up in Nabard to achieve the goal, 'per drop more crop'," finance minister Arun Jaitley said. According to research firm KPMG, the fund may be extended to small tea planters who account for nearly one-third of the annual tea production in India. "Since these gardens are small in nature, micro irrigation schemes may benefit them. However, we have to study the contours of the scheme once it is launched," said Sumouleendra Ghosh, director, infrastructure, government and healthcare, KPMG in India. Small growers have a cultivation area under 10.12 hectares.
