Udhagamandalam: Association of United Planter South India (Attention) has been looking for the intervention of the central government to reduce tea imports from Kenya, Nepal and Vietnam because it has harmed the domestic tea sector.
In a press release issued in the city on Tuesday, a supplementation said during the first quarter (Jan-Mar) in 2020, the amount of tea imported reached 2.49 million kg while it rose to 5.96 million kg for the same period in 2021, showed a significant jump of 139.36%.
Tea imports for 2020 are estimated at around 23.40 million kg by opposing 15.85 million kg in the previous year, an increase of 47.63%.
On the other hand, the domestic tea sector has witnessed an increase in production costs due to high input costs and high wage costs.
Every higher tea intake through imports will affect this sector which serves a large segment of populations in remote areas.
On the other hand, tea exports have been hit as evidence of the decrease in quantity exported and the value is realized.
For example, the export of tea is lower by 42,430 tons in 2020 and the decline trend continues over the first four months of 2021.
Lack of containers, especially food grade containers, and increased shipping costs turned out to be an obstacle to plantation exports including tea.
from India, said release.
President Supplying Prashant Bhansali said, “Tea is an important agro industry that employs 2.12 lakh farmers and 11.65 lakh workers.
Fifty percent of the production in this country comes from the small growth sector.” He added, “Under the ASEAN agreement , Import duties gradually diminish since 2009 to drink tea.
” Therefore, efforts show that the Indian government must monitor tea imports and implement the 2005 Order of Tea (Distribution & Export) Order, wherever needed to maintain the tea industry in India.