The Tea Board is requesting Rs 1,000 crore in industry support over the next five years

The Tea Board has asked for Rs 1,000 crore in aid for the industry over the course of the next five years beginning in 2022–2023

According to Saurav Pahari, chairman of the tea board, the small tea growers (STGs), who account for 52% of the nation's total production, have gotten special attention in the budget that was submitted to the Union Commerce ministry.

Following the AGM of the Indian Tea Association (ITA) on Thursday, Pahari informed reporters, "We have requested monetary assistance of Rs 1,000 crore in the budget given to the government for a period of five years starting 2022-23.

According to him, the STGs, which account for 52% of the nation's output volumes, are the focus of the budget.

According to Pahari, the Tea Board requested subsidies for traditional tea production, which has a strong export market.

"It is encouraging to see that the STGs' work is now recognised by the tea industry as a whole. For the sector to expand, there needs be cooperation between the major tea plantations and STGs "Pahari stated.

Tea exports, he claimed, had plunged but are now increasing. "But domestic production has not increased as quickly as anticipated. Tea needs to be marketed in India as more than just a simple product "he continued.

Pahari added that while production costs must be kept under control to ensure profitability, technology must be employed to optimise the usage of labour in the business.

Tea exports are anticipated to reach 230 million kg in 2022, up from 196 million kilogrammes in the calendar year 2021, according to ITA Chair Nayantara Pal Choudhuri.

She added that the issue of low-cost, non-FSSAI compliant teas imported from some nations needs to be resolved right now.

She spoke of the financial strain placed on the Darjeeling tea business as a result of declining production brought on by dropping yields, rising input costs, and nearly static prices.

Additionally, Palchoudhuri has been named chair of the projected Asia Tea Alliance, which will include the industry associations of Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Nepal, and Bangladesh as members.

The partnership will focus on problems including trade promotion, increasing tea consumption, and technology exchange in conjunction with Solidaridad Asia.