The Centre has announced a subsidy scheme for tea small growers to mitigate drought’s adversity.
“This arises from our representations to the Tea Board and the raising of the issue in the Lok Sabha by P. Viswanathan, Board Member, representing Parliament. Now, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has written to Viswanathan confirming the subsidy scheme”, Tea Board Member S. Ramu told Business Line .
In his letter, Finance Minister has said that Rs 200 crore has been allotted for implementing various schemes for small growers’ development during the 12{+t}{+h} Plan. This includes a scheme for drought relief.
“The scheme provides for subsidy for creating irrigation facilities. The subsidy is 40 per cent of irrigation investment including tube-wells, check-dams, sprinklers and drip irrigation. It is available for individual tea growers”, Finance Minister has said.