Plantation Academy to train sector staff

Shirajiv Sirimane

STAFF TRAINING: The Government would soon set up a Plantation Academy to train staff in the tea, rubber and coconut sectors.

The discussion in this regard was held at the Ministry of Finance last morning and the Secretary to the Treasury Dr. P. B. Jayasundara directed officials to draw up a project proposal in this regard which would be submitted for Cabinet approval.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation Industries, J. Abeywickrama, told the Daily News that an academy of this nature was a big need in the country. “In most of the plantation companies the key positions such as estate superintendent, his deputy are being given from father to son. What the Government wants to do is to introduce trained and qualified staff for these positions and it would also lead to productivity,” he said.

He said the new academy would also award diplomas and would have courses for superintendents, kankanis, tea tasters, tea brokers, rubber peelers and for many others as well. “We are hoping to attract foreign students and from the money generated from them hope to offer scholarships for under privilege children to be enrolled in the academy,” he said.

These students would also be given hostel facilities and on the job training in Government estates. “We are hoping to attract students from both the private and the government sector for this academy,” he said.

He said they are also hoping to simplify the method of providing incentives for manure for the plantations sector.

The Government provides coupons for tea, rubber and coconut smallholders to purchase manure for special rates.

For tea smallholders who own less than 5 acres a Rs. 500 coupon is provided for a 50 kilogram bag. “However we have observed that these coupons are misused and sometimes sold too. This is why we are thinking of introducing a new system,” he said.

The Minister of Plantation Industries, D. M. Jayaratne is very keen to introduce more value addition for tea, rubber and coconut exports. “With this in mind the Minister is hoping to increase the tax on latex rubber exporters so that exporters would be compelled to do value addition,” he said.

“Value addition would increase more employment opportunities and also bring in more foreign exchange creating a better identity for local products in the global market. This is the reason the Minister is keen to promote value addition,” he said.