Indian Tea Association holds 140th annual general meeting in Kolkata

GUWAHATI: The Indian Tea Association (ITA) held its 140th Annual General Meeting in Kolkata on Friday.

Addressing the gathering, chairperson of ITA, Nayantara Palchoudhuri highlighted the sustainability challenges confronting the tea sector, stated a press release. She stated that economic viability of the industry is challenged owing to the unsustainable increase in costs amidst unremunerative prices.

Palchoudhuri in her address lauded the Government of India for G20 Presidency and its emphasis on climate change and women empowerment stating that they stand out as shining examples of the New India’s transformative outlook. The back-to-back successes of the lunar and solar missions were hailed.

“The Indian economy is an example of steady performance in the midst of recessions across the globe. The tea industry, in the wake of climate change adversities has been facing successive years of financial stress. ITA considers it a responsibility to forge an internal agenda to combat this situation in order to secure a safe future for the tea industry,” she said.

Highlighting the ITA’s submissions to the Commerce Ministry, she spoke about the ee-introduction of Orthodox Incentive with a special higher rate for Darjeeling; need for Preferential Trade Agreement with Bangladesh facilitating exports of Dooars, Terai, Cachar and Tripura teas; expeditious disbursal of long-pending Tea Board subsidy claims; and increase of RoDTEP Reward Rate is necessary for export competitiveness.

The ITA chairperson commended the progressive reforms of the State Governments of West Bengal and Assam. Schemes like Duare Sarkar of West Bengal and ATISIS of Assam were lauded. ITA has submitted a detailed paper to the Committee of Labour Commissionerate, Government of West Bengal, regarding growth and development of West Bengal tea sector suggesting several interventions which include a financial package for the economic sustainability of the North Bengal Tea Sector.

The adverse liquidity position of Darjeeling tea sector calls for a financial relief package which by the way, has the endorsement of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce. Reassuring the small tea growers about ITA’s inclusive approach, she stated that this spirit will prevail.

On the way forward for the industry, she stated, “In order to enable the Indian tea sector to continue to make a sustainable product which meets ethical and environmental standards, Fair Price Discovery providing tea producers a margin above the cost of production is a necessity.

“Our journey ahead will need changes within the industry in order to adapt to contemporary situation. Embracing the emerging smart technologies that factor in efficiency, productivity, cost mitigation and seeking alternative models of revenue generation are essential to stay afloat in an eco-system where tea as a stand-alone crop may not be sustainable.

“The inclusion of carbon farming as one of the options in the industry’s portfolio of mitigation strategies deserves priority. The industry has to leverage the fast emerging carbon trading market and try to generate income through sale of carbon credits thereby creating other sources of revenue and remaining sustainable,” she said.

Also Read:Rest room, foothpath library inaugurated by Jorhat MP Topon Kumar Gogoi

Also watch: