The Kendu Leaf Trade: Problems & Prospects in Orissa - Vasundhara

More documents

Recommendations

Info

About 40 to 50%(sometimes even more than that) of the total cost of production is spent on the procurement from pluckers. A time may come when even reducing the procurement price may be necessary. In that case, sharing the KL grant directly with the pluckers can compensate their loss. In fact, a review of the objectives and achievements of the KL grant policy is very urgent, as it has been increasingly felt that this has deviated from its original purpose, and that the present circumstances demand a revised approach. The KL task force (2000) has recommended several measures many of which appear either fully or partly feasible for implementation towards reduction of production cost. 9.2: Concessions to the bidi industry: The production cost for bidi has increased substantially during the past few years. The price of kendu leaf is said to have almost doubled whereas that of coal(used to generate heat to which the bidis are exposed just after rolling in order to increase the durability) and tobacco has risen by three times and 100% respectively (per. comm.. M.C.Patel). The government is revising the bidi binders’ wages from time to time, and this wage is increasing. While bidi manufacturers manage to pay lesser wages on the basis of a negotiation with the binders, availability of binders is decreasing due to better scope in alternative professions. One of the major grievances of the legally operating manufacturers is the provision in the Excise policy to exempt excise cess up the production of 20 lakh bidis for manufacturers of unbranded bidis. They complain that not only this has resulted in a substantial loss of revenue for the government, but also has promoted the growth of duplicate bidi as manufacturers take advantage of the provision and prefer to change their status to that of the small scale unit holder which deserves this exemption. In West Bengal, this duplicate bidi is supposed to have been able to capture 20-30% of the share in the bidi market. Hence, authorized production looses its share to this duplicate bidi. Flavoured bidi has some market abroad, but samples cannot be sent against trade enquiry easily as courier companies do not accept such tobacco products. Bidi manufacturers think that if policy level changes are made to solve their problems, then they can sustain somehow atleast for one or more decades despite changes in the smoking habits of the people. The government should therefore incorporate the possible strategy of redressal of the genuine grievances of bidi manufacturers so that the end market can be secured under an integrated strategy for better marketing of KL. 9.3: Develop alternate utilities of commercial importance: 9..3..1: Tobacco-free bidi Several innovative ideas have been implemented not only to stabilize the bidi market, but also to harness the export potential. Flavoured bidi is one such attempt which uses various flavours like vanilla, strawberry, grape, and clove, etc., added to the tobacco, to provide a more pleasant 39
feeling in bidi smoking. And this has proved successful also. The extreme attempt however has been the tobacco-free bidi. This was made in view of the antitobacco campaign, and herbal materials were used to provide the smoker a health-friendly smoking opportunity. However, this has virtually failed to attract the bidi-lovers not only because it fails to satisfy the addicted body & mind, but also it may change even the normal sensations of taste to a displeasing one because of the materials used. One such bidi developed by Orissa Beedi Shramik Mahasangha, a federation of bidi workers, could not click in the market for this reason thought it used more than 10 herbal ingredients. There is still a hope that if developed properly keeping in mind the addiction of the bidi smokers, and to provide them a strong and effective puff though in the non-tobacco way; the tobacco-free bidi can successfully help the bidi industry. Needless to say, this needs careful R&D work. If successful, not only it will help the bidi industry sustain the anti-tobacco campaign; but will also save the bidi rollers from the health problems resulting from exposure to tobacco. 40
Page 1 and 2: The Kendu Leaf Trade: Problems & Pr
Page 3 and 4: A keri of kendu leaves. The colour(
Page 5 and 6: Contents Kendu leaf: an introductio
Page 7 and 8: List of annexure 1. Gradation of Ke
Page 9 and 10: The Kendu Leaf Trade: Problems & Pr
Page 11 and 12: 4.Livelihood dependency of KL pluck
Page 13 and 14: The cost of processing is compensat
Page 15 and 16: Chart-1 Forms of tobacco consumptio
Page 17 and 18: manufactured in coastal Orissa . M.
Page 19 and 20: One can further see from the two fo
Page 21 and 22: 7.Implications of the crisis: While
Page 23 and 24: Chart-8 Bidi production by M/S. Cee
Page 25 and 26: Chart-12 Total production of bidi b
Page 27 and 28: production accounts for less than 1
Page 29 and 30: • There is a bumper crop. • The
Page 31 and 32: This is obviously because Orissa ha
Page 33 and 34: The Orissa Kendu Leaves Purchasers
Page 35 and 36: Total export to SL & Pak. and the s
Page 37 and 38: In Kadamdihi phadi under Kadamdihi
Page 39: manufacturers prefer bundles of les
Page 43 and 44: 9..3..2: Non-smoking utilities: It
Page 45 and 46: increased target for phal productio
Page 47 and 48: of this kind has been done in many
Page 49 and 50: though the intention behind such re
Page 51 and 52: ANNEXURE 50
Page 53 and 54: Year Annexure-2 Production, deliver
Page 55 and 56: Year Annexure-6 Sale value of KL To
Page 57 and 58: Annexure-10 Export of KL by Nationa
Page 59 and 60: Annexure-13 Qualitative production
Page 61 and 62: concurrent lease has not been grant
Page 63 and 64: Annexure-19 Media’s concern over
Page 65 and 66: Annexure-21 Concern over the implic
Page 67 and 68: Annexure-23 Media concern over the
Page 69 and 70: Annexure-25 Media concern over the
Page 71 and 72: (Note: The above matter was publish
Page 73 and 74: Annexure-27(contd.) Letter of M/S.

The Kendu Leaf Trade: Problems & Prospects in Orissa - Vasundhara

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?