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

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The reasons of failure of this initiative were as under: • The unit started working under the technical support of Kerala Dinesh Bidi(KDB), but the support actually proved to be detrimental on various grounds. For instance, the tobacco selected(and purchased) for bidi making was not of the kind preferred in Orissa, and hence the product(Konark bidi) earned a bad name in the market. It was later tried to replace this tobacco and give the product a new flavour, but it was difficult to convince the customers. • Internal factors like mismanagement, misappropriation, lack of sincerity, and lack of effective marketing strategy also accounted for the failure. • The cost of production was not competitive with that of the private units as, unlike the latter, Konark Bidi was not supposed to do any kind of malpractices as regards the payment of various dues and duties to the government. • The sense(constructive) of ownership, which cultivates the qualities like sincerity, and commitment among the authorities, and encourages to take risks with a good-will to save the business, was often lacking at managerial level. While the Konark Bidi experiment does not favour value addition of poor grade and/or unsold stocks, through bidi making(at government level); it also reminds of the fact that the state trading of kendu leaf has survived till date only because Orissa has a monopoly in the production and marketing of processed leaves. If this monopoly were not there, then the state trading would have collapsed probably years ago due to its internal weaknesses. 13. Conclusion: The Kendu leaf trade in Orissa has been threatened partially by external factors like the decline in the demand of bidi, and also partially by internal factors like corruption, mismanagement, and lackadaisical attitude at various levels of production, processing, and marketing by the government agencies. If internal factors are dealt with properly, then external factors do not seem to be a major threat for the Orissa kendu leaves atleast for the coming few years as our leaves are still considered to be of first quality in the country. However, for long term sustenance in the commercial sector, alternative utilities of kendu leaves should be developed on a war footing so that one or more alternate markets can be ensured. The task force headed by Dr. Ramvir Singh submitted their report to the government in October 2000, in which they have analysed in detail the problems in the state trading of KL in Orissa, and have suggested a comprehensive strategy for restructuring this trade. Highly valued for its analysis and suggestions, this report however seems to be partially outdated in the backdrop of the recent-most experiences. For instance, it recommended(#10.11) that the KL wing should be headed by an officer not below the rank of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, who should be assisted by two Chief Conservator of Forests, one for operations and one for sales & vigilance. While the first part of this recommendation has been implemented 17 , the second part (appointment of two CCF level officers) is not considered to be feasible on various grounds 17 In a recent (August) decision, a CCF rank officer now heads the KL wing. 47
though the intention behind such recommendation is well respected. Similarly, its recommendation (#10.3.2) to convert three additional divisions from process to phal system for reducing production costs, no more seems a comfortable one. However, this report can be certainly used as a guideline on the basis of which fresh review of the situation should be done at appropriate intervals (say, twice a year) by a committee that include atleast two representatives from the non-government sector who have been working honestly and seriously on one or more aspects of this trade at state level. This committee can either replace the existing KLCC, or the latter can be made more dynamic to take up this task effectively. For, without a dynamic attitude(constructive) the dynamics of the KL trade can not be properly dealt with. Hence, every effort should be made to ensure such a dynamics at all levels of the KL production and marketing. ___________________ 48
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 and 40: manufacturers prefer bundles of les
Page 41 and 42: feeling in bidi smoking. And this h
Page 43 and 44: 9..3..2: Non-smoking utilities: It
Page 45 and 46: increased target for phal productio
Page 47: of this kind has been done in many
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

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