India produces about 26 million g of organic tea and 80 per cent of this is exported to Germany, the UK and the US.
Nuremberg (Germany), Feb. 19:
The Tea Board has set up three model farms in India on 100 acres each to
develop a standard package for cultivation of organic tea, according to
Ms Roshni Sen, Deputy Chairperson of the Board.
“The farms are in Munnar (Kerala), Darjeeling (West Bengal) and Assam
and they will develop a standard package through research and
development,” she told Business Line at the Indian Tea Board pavilion at BioFach 2012.
The package is being developed with financial aid from the Food and Agriculture Organisation's Centre For Commodities Fund.
While the United Planters Association of Southern India-Tea Research
Association is involved in the Munnar farm, the Darjeeling Tea
Development Research Corporation is doing the spadework at Darjeeling.
The Tea Research Association of India, Tocklai, is in charge of research
in Assam gardens.
“We are following a two-pronged strategy in encouraging organic
production of tea. One is to prepare a standard package for cultivation
and the other is to rope in small farmers by imparting regular
training,” she said.
This is seen as a significant move by India to strengthen its hold in
the organic tea market with a production of 26 million kg. About 80 per
cent of this is exported to Germany, the UK and the US.
Currently, organic tea is being cultivated on 22,000 hectares and India
is one of the few countries that has a national programme for organic
production apart from China.
There are eight certifying agencies in the organic tea sector and 50
producers have been certified by these bodies. “Other producers are in
the process of getting certification,” Ms Sen said.
The development of organic tea and a standard package for its
cultivation is also seen important in the background of reports of
pesticide residues being found in Indian tea consignments.
The Tea Board has appointed an agency to undertake a market study on domestic demand in organic products.
“We have already done a study on demand for such products in the US,” she said.
On setting up an export inspection council in view of increasing
complaints on quality grounds against Indian tea, Ms Sen said a
monitoring system will be set up during the 12th Plan period.
To a question on a directorate for small tea growers, she said it will
begin functioning from this year. “We have already started the
recruitment process for the directorate,” she said.
(The trip for BioFach 2012 has been sponsored by Nuremberg Messe GmbH in collaboration with the APEDA).
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