Ri Bhoi co-op society starts operations at Umsning tea factory

GUWAHATI: The ARSLA Organic Tea Growers’ and Producers’ Cooperative Society has started full-scale production in its newly set-up tea factory at Umsning.
“We started production in our new factory at Nongjri last month. So far, we have processed about 550 kg tea, which will be sold in the local markets. However since the yield of green leaves is going down with the tea season coming to a close, we are thinking about closing production for now in a day or two,” KW Chyne, the co-promoter of the cooperative society, told The Shillong Times on Sunday.
The cooperative society, comprising 37 organic tea farmers in Ri Bhoi district, had earlier planned to start production by June and thereafter in September after two trial runs but had to defer full-scale operations in the factory owing to delay in power supply from the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL).
Asked about the society’s plan to launch and promote its ARSLA brand of green, black and Oolong orthodox teas in the market, Chyne said that a decision in this regard has not been taken.
“There was a proposal from the state government to organise the first ever tea festival in the state this month, which however has been deferred in all probability. So, we have not taken any decision on our plans for the launch and promotion of the brand. Prior to that, we have to sort out the issue of packaging the teas,” Chyne said.
The premium organic tea brand, once launched, is poised to cater niche markets across the country and world. The society had overcome funds constraint to set up its own factory having a capacity of producing 40,000 kg tea per annum.
The plantations of ARSLA were certified organic in 2013.
However, since there was no plant to process organic tea in Ri Bhoi district, the society decided to set up its own factory. An investment of Rs 80lakh has been made on the plant, equipment and power transformer alone.
Organic tea farmers in Ri Bhoi district had since 2013 been selling their premium tea leaves at a loss to factories making conventional teas.