ITA seeks to establish bridge with small tea growers

The large volume of small tea growers are actually bringing down the prices of quality tea both the Assam and Dooars region in West Bengal, says ITA Chairman A N Singh

Indian Tea Association (ITA) is seeking to bridge ties with the unorganised sector of small tea growers as the latter's production volumes were witnessing a secular rise, an industry official said.

"The volume of tea produced by small tea growers is approximately 33% of the total production. At this juncture, it is important to establish a linkage between them with organised players," ITA Chairman A N Singh said.

He said that the large volume of small tea growers, whose produce were being processed at various bought leaf factories, was actually bringing down the prices of quality tea both the Assam and Dooars region in West Bengal.

The ITA was having initial talks with the Tea Board for bringing the small tea growers to the same table for emerging at a win-win situation, Singh told reporters here today.

Singh said that the small tea growers should be attached to factories which had good manufacturing practices as followed in Kenya.

This ensured that the quality of tea produced by them was as good as those of the organised players, he said.

"Tea Board is looking at a possible price-sharing mechanism with the small tea growers," an ITA official said.

Singh said that the harsh temperatures prevailing in Assam during May this year was having an impact on the production volumes as monsoon was delayed.

"The tea industry was in touch with Tea Research Association (TRA) for developing high-temperature resistant clones," he said.

Besides this, the industry was also looking at shade management and irrigation procedures to deal with such climates.

According to ITA estimates, which exclude the produce of small tea growers, overall Assam production from January to May this year was lower by one% at 41.1 mkg, while that of West Bengal was higher by 18.2% at 15.9 mkg.