GUWAHATI, March 25 � An interactive meet on how to bring more discipline into the green leaf trade held between the black tea producers and the green tea leaf producers at Golaghat NETA House today felt it necessary to lay more stress on maintaining the quality of tea leaf in the fields. The participants were moved by the adage that tea is made in the field and not in the factory.
According to a North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) press release, the meet decided to generate awareness among the small tea growers to pluck leaves within a certain period of time, normally once in seven days, which may vary from month to month. It also decided to make the suppliers aware of the need to deliver leaf in good condition to the factories.
It agreed that a time would be fixed for delivery of leaves to factories after which the factories would not receive any more green leaf for that day. Spraying of right pesticides for different pests and diseases and the interval between pesticide spraying and plucking also came up during the discussion.
It was further decided to announce minimum base price of green leaf in Golaghat district from time to time so that the growers are not cheated. Everybody present felt it necessary to maintain self-discipline in the green leaf trade so that it becomes a win-win situation for both the green leaf sellers and the tea manufacturers.
To drive home the point of maintaining quality in the field, a power point presentation was made where it was shown that there existed huge difference in price realisation of good quality made tea and general quality made tea in auction centres. In a particular month in Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) in 2011, when very good quality teas were selling above Rs 175 per kg, during the same time, general quality teas were selling at about Rs 100 per kg.
The meet was organised by North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) in association with Golaghat District Small Tea Growers� Association. It was presided over by NETA chairman Bidyananda Barkakoty and attended by thirty factory representatives and ten representatives of green leaf growers.
