Tea industry in deep crisis, says ex-Tea Board chief

The country's tea industry is in great crisis and efforts should be made to improve quality, former chairman of Tea Board MGVK Bhanu said today.
"I am worried about the present condition of the tea industry. I see no solution in sight for the next four or five years," said Bhanu, who is also the additional chief secretary to the chief minister of Assam.
He was speaking at the annual general meeting of the Indian Tea Association here.
Bhanu added that it is unfortunate that prices of tea are low, which is due to poor quality of the produce.
Unless this is undone, people will move to other beverages.

According to him, the situation can be improved by taking care of the workers, who would then be induced to do proper plucking.
"We have to look after the tea workers. Higher wages would have to be paid to improve plucking," Bhanu said, and suggested that big planters forge strategic alliances with small tea growers.