Coonoor, Sep 17 : United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) President J K Thomas today said over production was the main reason for the downfall of tea plantation sector.

Delivering the presidential address during the 114th UPASI annual conference here, Mr Thomas said the Centre should help the plantation sector to compete in the global market. The Commerce Ministry should extend the incentive package, announced for the plantation sector, for longer period to help India regain the lost position as world's number one tea exporter. Mr Thomas said the Plantation Labour Act, the Land Reforms Act and the Minimum Wage Act needed a drastic overhaul as these laws were conceived during a completely different economic, political and social milieu. He said tea exports had taken a beating on account of Rupee appreciation.

Spout Off

FOX talk-show host Bill O'Reilly enjoyed a meal in Harlem with Rev. Al Sharpton. “There wasn't one person in Sylvia's who was screaming, ‘M-F'er, I want more iced tea,'" said O'Reilly. “You know, I mean, everybody was – it was like going into an Italian restaurant in an all-white suburb in the sense of people were sitting there, and they were ordering and having fun." .