GUWAHATI:Three Assam tea producers’ Associations have submitted a memorandum to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce urging it to take immediate measures to ensure the survival of Assam’s tea industry.
A joint forum of Assam Tea Planters’ Association (ATPA), North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) and Bharatiya Cha Parishad (BCP) pointed out that the industry was passing through a period of stagnancy. Stating these, NETA Chairman Bidyananda Barkakoty said here on Sunday that the average price of CTC tea in Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) from April 1, 2011 to January 31 2012 was lower by Rs 4.41 compared to that of the same period in 2010-11.
Rise in cost of key inputs such as fertilizers, coal, fuel, gas and electricity have made the task of containing the cost of production difficult.
“If logical steps are not taken immediately to address policy bottlenecks in the primary markets/auctions, there is every possibility that soon the industry will be gasping for survival,” he said.
The Planters’ Associations have also called for immediate auction reforms and urged for a robust electronic auction for fair price. “Unlike other tea growing areas/states, tea is a major industry of Assam and therefore sustained viability of the tea industry is vital for the local economy,” he added.
The Associations have urged timely disbursal of subsidies and the need for a better system and web-based status display of all pending cases in this regard.Barkakoty said that they had demanded setting up of an Integrated Tea Park near Guwahati of international standard . (PTI)
alue addition, enhance export, trading and employment.
There was also an urgent need for a Human Resource Development Institute in Assam as poor skill was affecting production, productivity and livelihood enhancement in the state.
The Associations also demanded branding, export promotion publicity and promotion of the health benefits of black tea. Quality standards should be formulated and imposed rigorously for export of tea.
Tea imported from other countries should not be allowed to be blended with Indian tea and sold in domestic and international markets with the Indian tea logo. The logo should be allowed only to Indian tea, he added.
Domestic consumption of tea should also be promoted with the opening of ‘Chai Bar’ across the country.
ATPA Chairman A R Kasera and BCP Chairman Manoj Jalan along with Barkakoty participated in an interactive meet here on the status of the tea industry and discussed the main issues highlighted in the memorandum to the Parliamentary Committee. PTI