AGARTALA, Sept 21 - Tripura tea could get an identity at the auction markets within next one and half months with Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC) taking up the issue with Tea Board of India (TBI).
Although the tea industry has been one of the oldest industries in the State, it has not been allocated a logo, an important factor in selling products at auction markets.
Because of the absence of a brand or logo, tea produced in the State has been failing to fetch good prices leading to a crisis-like situation for the tea planters and thousands of pluckers.
Barring some finished tea, most of CTC tea is being sold at Rs 110/120 per kg at auction markets which is less than that of factory cost. The State produces 8.7 million kg of tea annually and around 15,000 people are engaged in the tea industry.
Having realised the ground reality, TTDC has been working to get a logo for tea produced in 54 tea estates across the State. �A logo for tea produced in the State has been finalised and will be sent to TBI for its consent. If TBI extends its helping hand, Tripura tea will surely get a logo by next one and half months which could be a game changer for the entire tea industry�, said TTDC chairman Santosh Saha here on Friday.
There have been persistent efforts to establish a tea auction market in the State to ensure tea planters get a reasonable price, he said, adding that Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb himself is keen to promote tea industry in a big way.
�Once a logo is given, tea planters will get an opportunity for marketing vigorously. This will surely have a positive impact on the entire tea industry�, he stated.
Saha also underlined the need to have coordination between the various bodies working in the tea industry. �Tea Cell is working under roof of Industries and Commerce department while Tea Research Association (TRA), TTDC and TBI are also functioning to promote tea. I often feel there is a lack of coordination among the bodies and therefore all must work in a well-coordinated way for better result�, he said.
