AGARTALA, April 22 - The price of orthodox tea has been dwindling over the years prompting tea planters to gradually shift to green tea production in Tripura.
�In 2017, tea planters can expect good production and it may break the previous year�s production of 9.50 million kg of made tea (orthodox tea). But what is worrying the tea planters is the rapid downfall in the made tea price.
Tea planters are struggling to realise the cost of production of finished tea due to various reasons�, secretary of the Tea Association of India, Tripura branch said today.
The secretary, PK Sarkar, however, said tea estates which are producing green tea are relatively in a better position as its price is a
bit higher than that of orthodox tea.
�A kg of orthodox tea is selling at Rs 80/85 in the auction markets whereas price of green tea stands at Rs 150/200 per kg. Obviously, tea planters are gradually shifting from traditional orthodox tea to green tea�, he said.
�A kg of made tea was being sold at Rs 80/85 in the auction markets in 2016 which is less than the cost of production�, Sarkar said.
At present 52 tea estates are operational with 13,000 workers involved in the tea industry but the industry is no longer a viable business due to various factors, he said.
He did not spell out the factors. � PTI
