Date:07/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/11/07/stories/2005110702350700.htm

Back Industry to help Tea Board to map consumption pattern

Our Bureau

Kolkata , Nov. 6

MAJOR tea industry organisations are trying to help the Tea Board to appoint an agency for mapping tea consumption pattern across the country.

According to Mr P.T. Siganporia, Chairman of the Indian Tea Association (ITA), the Union Commerce Ministry is also keen on having such a report prepared. ITA has identified it as a foremost job for the current year.

He was talking to reporters after addressing the fourth workshop on `Value Addition to Foods: Tea'.

It was organised by the Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) in collaboration with the Central Food Technological Research Institute and the Defence Food Research Laboratory.

According to him, both ITA and CCPA (Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations) have agreed to help the Tea Board for the purpose.

Till now, he agreed, there is hardly any statistics-based knowledge of the tea consumption behaviour of Indians.

"We have been trying to resolve the back-end problems by reducing our production cost but that is not all. Efforts should be made to resolve the front-end problem too.

Otherwise, there will not be a gradual growth in the fortunes of the industry," he said.

It may be noted that about 3-4 years ago the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata, had conducted a similar study to find out the total consumption of tea within the country.

The Tea Marketing Control Act, 2003, also has a clause under which all producers, brokers, sub-brokers, dealers and retailers are supposed to submit the statistical details of their tea dealings.

However, it has been hardly implemented. According to Mr Siganporia, only 45 per cent of the "potential responders" has submitted their records. He said currently domestic consumption has been pegged at 730 million kg.

Earlier, while addressing the gathering he said consumption for all sorts of teas is growing globally except black teas. He felt that efforts should be made to bring about resurgence in the demand of black teas.