Technology Management in India’s Plantation Sector: Structural Infirmities Perspective

Abstract

This chapter addresses the question of how commodity enterprises can improve their competitiveness through the identification of structural infirmities and development of appropriate technology to raise the level of industrial development and grow their GDP. Technology management in plantation involves the application of management skills to the discovery, development, operation and proper use of technology and other resources to solve problems and improve efficiency and effectiveness. The major objective of this chapter is to outline a comprehensive framework on structural infirmities in coffee and tea sector with special reference to productivity, labour management, mechanization, quality and overall competitiveness of the sector. Critical case evaluation and field-based observations highlight that the technology management with special focus on mechanization reduces the dependence over labour. It implicates the importance of multidisciplinary research and other departments to evolve appropriate implements and machineries. However, non-existence of separate R&D division for design, development and evaluation of appropriate tools and machines within ergonomic aspects for estate operations acts as a major infirmity. Also, indigenously developed machines and its unsuitability of existing planting designs/terrain conditions hinder overall productivity of the sector. This chapter looks at these aspects in detail and draws upon the lessons that would suit Indian plantations to identify considerable trans-disciplinary learning across commodity for improved productivity, technology management and competitiveness.