Planters' body favours shift from granular to orthodox teas
The Hindu
An association of tea planters and factory owners has advised a gradual shift from the production of CTC (crush, tear, curl) or granular tea to orthodox teas for upgrading quality and improving the im
An association of tea planters and factory owners has advised a gradual shift from the production of CTC (crush, tear, curl) or granular tea to orthodox teas for upgrading quality and improving the image of the industry.
The North Eastern Tea Association (NETA), whose members account for an annual production of 102 million kg of processed tea, admitted that the time has come for the industry to get out of the subsidy regime. But it said the Government should continue with the incentive of ₹3 per kg on the production of orthodox teas while addressing issues such as the impact of climate change and labour shortage on the industry.
“This will help in a better product mix with an increase in the production of orthodox and green teas and a reduction in the production of CTC teas. This will help increase export of orthodox teas and increase the price of CTC teas at the farm gate level,” the NETA said in a letter to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.