The AIADMK’s general secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, on Friday, September 8, 2023, claimed that the livelihood of nearly 85,000 small and marginal tea growers in the Nilgiris district had been affected due to a fall in the price of green tea leaves to ₹12 a kg.
In a statement, Mr. Palaniswami said there should be a “realistic” minimum support price (MSP) of ₹33.5 a kg, taking into account the interests of the tea growers, judicial pronouncements and recommendations of the M.S. Swaminathan Commission on agriculture, Pointing out that the Naaku Betta Badagar Welfare Association was undertaking a fast since September 1 in this regard,, he contended the DMK regime had not considered the demand of the body.
