Record tea production in Assam but all worried

Assam has produced record number of tea but there is nocheer as everyone involved in the tea business knows that future is doomed asthere is higher supply than the demand and as a result the price is going downknocking off the  players and  putting a big question mark to its future.

 Assam produced 691.98million kg (mkg) of tea in 2018, the highest-ever tea production in the State. Butall are in serious tension as the 700 odd major tea gardens and 1.5 lakgh smalltea grower's future is at stake and Assam Government seems to be completelyoblivious of what is about to come. The Tea Board of India said   there is a 2.48 per cent increase over thatof 2017

"The highest-ever production is another success story forthe tea industry of Assam. But we are extremely worried about stagnant pricesof tea. While the cost of tea production is increasing every year, the pricesrefuse to go up," an official in the industry said.

 "Consumption of teahas also not gone up over the years in Assam and the rest of India. The youthsare not attracted to tea as the most preferred drink. So, what good theindustry will do with such high production of tea," a senior official anauction house said.

India also registered highest-ever tea production with1338.63mkg in 2018 as compared to 1321.76mkg in 2017, an increase of 1.28 percent.

South India has, however, registered a drop of 4.17 per centin tea production as compared to that of 2017. West Bengal registered a 2.47per cent increase as compared to that of 2017.

Wit tea major Mcleod Russel offloading the gardens and inthe Northern Bank they have refused to buy from the STGs, there has been strongpanic amongst the tea community as there will be over production from the monthof June and there will be no takers which will severely affect the green tealeaves.

"This is an extremely serious condition and worst that AssamGovernment has no interest to save it and has not interfered in it" said Mr Debabrta Medhi, A small teagrower.