Concerns rise among small tea growers in North East India over increased tea imports
Small Tea Growers Association (NECSTGA) has expressed concern that import of teas from Nepal, Kenya and other African Countries vis-a-vis Tea Board’s directive on early closure of tea production in North India.
Budget with ET
Budget 2025: A CFO’s playbook for operational excellence and long-term growth
Rising Bharat may need to take center stage for India’s game-changing plans
Will Indian Railways accelerate to global standards with govt’s budgetary allocation?
In a letter to Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal NECSTGA added, “With deep concern and anguish, we write to bring to your kind attention the growing challenges faced by more than 1.5 lakh small tea growers and their families in North East India. These growers contribute over 50% of teas produced in North East India”.
NECSTGA said, “Tea Board India had directed us to stop harvesting of tea leaves from 1st Dec 2024 with an intention to bring equilibrium in the demand supply mismatch. But now we have noticed that there has been huge jump in imports of tea from Nepal, Kenya and other African countries. As per the official figures of Tea Board of Kenya, the exports from Kenya to India in 2024 (Jan to Oct) is 13.71 million kgs whereas in 2023 (Jan to Oct) it was 3.53 million kgs. Therefore, there has been a jump of 288%. Similarly, in regard to import of Nepal teas, the Mechi Customs Office has witnessed 55.70% rise in tea export to India in the last six months. The early closure of tea production in North India is cited as the reason behind the rise in import of tea. Therefore, Tea Board’s intention to control oversupply of tea in India got defeated.
