Tea gardens to be monitored through GIS mapping

The Tea Board has decided to conduct Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping of all tea gardens at periodic intervals to monitor the progress of rejuvenation and re-plantation work under a special purpose tea fund (SPTF) programme.

The decision to start surveillance of gardens was taken to monitor a re-plantation and rejuvenation programme to begin shortly with 30 per cent government subsidy, Tea Board Chairman Basudeb Banerjee said.

Banerjee said at a review meeting last week that it had been decided that a Rs 4,700-crore fund would be formed with a 30 per cent government subsidy, 50 per cent loans from lending institutions and 20 per cent contribution by the tea-growing companies.

The task of carrying out GIS mapping, he said, would be handed over to a Hyderabad-based government agency. The SPTF had been created for carrying out rejuvenation and re-plantation activity in age-old tea gardens over a period of 15 years.

The Planning Commission had approved the creation of the special fund.

Meanwhile, a 14-member delegation led by Pakistan Tea Association chairman Mohammad Altaf will visit India soon to explore ways of increasing exports to the neighbouring country.

Banerjee said that in view of the loss of the Kenyan crop due to drought in that country, India was pitching hard to step up its exports to Pakistan. According to industry estimates, the loss of crop in Kenya would be in the region of 50 million kg to 70 million kg.

He said Pakistan, a CTC consuming country, imported 10 million kg from India. This year, the figure is expected to go up to 20 million kg.

The Indian tea industry is also keen for export through the land border route to Pakistan. India's tea exports to the neighbouring country is currently routed through Kochi to Karachi port.

Besides Pakistan, India is also eyeing Egypt as a lucrative market for CTC tea.

He said the Tea Board was planning a delegation to that country to study the prospects of the market.

Tea offerings increase this week

Total tea offerings amounted to 13,588 packages over last week's 7,425 packages, comprising 12,132 packages of CTC, 1,276 packages of orthodox and 180 packages of Darjeeling teas.

This week's CTC offerings saw a good demand where dooars were sold well in line with quality particularly smaller brokens and fannings Assams also sold at levels higher than last year.

Good local buyers also support the clean and grainy teas western India buyers showed on better liquoring sorts as well as major blender were quiet.

Orthodox offerings met with improved demand. Nominal weight of new season Assams sold well in line with quality at levels higher than corresponding sale last year.

CIS got fair support and local buyers were active particularly on smaller brokens and leafy fannings.

Darjeeling teas met, with a nominal weight of new season teas, sold well at levels slightly higher than last year. There was support by the traditional export buyers and local dealers for cheaper whole leaf and smaller grades.