The prolonged crisis in the plantation sector has attracted widespread attention. The current situation of growing market uncertainties or depressed farm gate prices of four major plantation crops - natural rubber, tea, coffee and cardamom - is rather unprecedented in gravity and has serious repercussions. The need for strategic interventions to facilitate the growth of producers' consortiums in the conduct of primary marketing of tea, coffee and cardamom deserves due attention. Moreover, the link between instabilities in farm gate prices and duty free imports for value added exports should also be examined.
