Kolkata: The Indian Tea Association (ITA) has urged 100% auction of ‘made tea' as it feels that the price of tea is not covering the cost. ITA has called different stakeholders of the industry, including small tea growers, to discuss the issue.
"To ensure sustainability of the Indian tea industry, a minimum price for ‘made tea', indexed to the cost of production and quality, needs to be introduced immediately. To monitor and give effect to the same, 100% auction of ‘made tea' should also be introduced," ITA said after an interactive session in the city on Tuesday.
The tea industry's representative body added that the present price sharing formula for determining the minimum benchmark price for green leaf was not compensating the cost of production.
At the session, the Big Tea Growers were represented by CK Dhanuka, chairman & MD, Dhunseri Tea & Industries Ltd, Hemant Bangur, chairman, ITA, Arijit Raha, secretary general, ITA, and others. The Small Tea Growers were represented by K Saikia of All Assam Small Tea Growers Association and Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty of Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers Association.