Speaking to delegates at the conference, Kumar said that the sector’s future hinges on partnership among all stakeholders and on building an ecosystem where every kilogram of plantation produce gains higher value addition and global recognition.
He highlighted the plantation sector’s role as a contributor to agricultural output, export earnings, and livelihoods for thousands, noting that it supplies raw material to multiple downstream industries and therefore forms an entire economic ecosystem.
Kumar outlined a vision for a “developed India” where plantation farms achieve higher value per hectare, greater technology adoption, increased exports, higher grower incomes and improved productivity, shifting the focus from raw commodities to value‑added products.
He called for research to be linked directly to farmers and processors, urging processors to develop brands that target global consumers and insisting that sustainability—producing more with less water and natural resources—be embedded in business models.
During the same meeting, the United Planters’ Association of Southern India elected Abhishek Poddar, managing director of Matheson Bosanquet Enterprises, as its president for the 2026‑27 term, and Anil Mathew, executive director (Plantations) of A V Thomas Group Companies, as vice‑president, bringing 35 years of experience across tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom and pepper to the leadership.
The announcements signal a coordinated push by both government and industry bodies to modernise the plantation sector, which could translate into higher export earnings and more resilient livelihoods for growers if the advocated reforms and investments materialise.