The Indian government is likely to unveil a composite fiscal package to help the plantation sector whose problems have increased following the free trade agreement (FTA) that India has signed with the 10 member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Under the FTA, India has agreed for gradual reduction in import on a range of commodities including pepper, black tea, coffee and palm oil etc. Even as the duty reduction is to be phased out over a 10-year period, various pressure groups and the growers' organisations have raised concerns on long run implications of the trade pact.

Union minister of state for commerce and industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said in this regard that the government was very serious about addressing the problems of indebtedness of the plantation sector adding that a note had already been sent to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and government would come out with a package shortly.

Speaking at a seminar organised by Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Scindia said that the package would particularly address small and medium plantation growers. The minister said that social costs were an important issue in the plantation sector and an empowered group of ministers has been asked to look into this issue.

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