Tea quality is a cause of concern: Union Minister Anupriya Patel

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Anupriya Patel interacted with the stakeholders of spice, silk and handicraft today. She was on a two-day visit to the state. Talking to the media here today, Patel said, "Tea quality is a serious concern. Apart from big tea companies, small tea growers should also lay stress on tea quality. Even if the small tea growers want to set up tea manufacturing units, the Union Ministry will extend all help. It is only quality that can help us enter new global markets. "To promote and brand Assam's silk and handicraft, the ministry has decided to engage the Indian Institute of Packaging, Mumbai for imparting packing and branding training to the people here.

"The Spices Board will set up a NABL-accredited laboratory in Northeast India. In the absence of the laboratory, spices from this region go to Kolkata for quality tests."

"Tea is a 200-year-old industry, and we are worried as exports have remained stagnant for the last ten years. The tea industry has much bigger potential. The government will extend all possible support for boosting exports," she said. She further said, "The five-year Tea Development and Promotion Scheme (TDPS) from 2021-22 has earmarked Rs 967 crore for supporting tea growers. We have a sector-specific allocation of Rs 98 crore for increasing exports from the Northeast." She said that Rs 298 crore got earmarked for clearing pending subsidies. "The Union budget has a provision of Rs 1,000 crore for the welfare of tea workers, especially women and their children, in Assam and West Bengal," she added. The Guwahati Auction Buyers' Association appealed to the Union Minister to review the Tea Act, 1953. "The Act has given much power to the Tea Board that interferes in the activities of the tea auction centre. The Tea Board should not intervene in the day-to-day business of auction centres, but it should facilitate the ease of doing business." According to the association, producers are not obeying the rules and directives under the Tea Act. "The directives of the Tea Board never get implemented. The buyers never get any choice, and they are forced to accept the directives. Producers sell most of their good quality teas in private sales and sell the remaining tea in the tea auction.

Also Read: Guwahati Tea Auction Buyers Association moves Centre for review of 'Tea Act-1953'

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