Assam tea industry should increase production: ABITA

The Assam Branch of Indian Tea Association (ABITA) has asked the state's tea industry to increase production of the beverage.
"Assam's tea industry has, during last two decades, faced the challenge of rising input costs and unremunerative prices, reflecting adversely on returns to investment.
"It is therefore imperative that measures be adopted to increase production by stepping up yields", ABITA chairman Ashok Krishan said during the branch's 125th Annual General Meeting held here last evening.
In recent years, the shortage of labour in tea estates had also thrown up a challenge to meet targets in production, thereby necessitating the option of mechanisation in plucking.

The tea industry has further experienced extreme weather patterns, high temperatures and a very uneven scattered rainfall coupled with crop loss, increased pest activity due to change in the bio-diversity and long spell of droughts, he said.
"The current climate change scenario has thrown up a definite challenge leading us to examine the issue in detail," Krishnan added.
He hailed the introduction of the Plant Protection Code from January 15, which include a set of guidelines on use of chemical inputs in tea but at the same time "we do hope that a practical and effective implementation is brought about to have uniform compliance."

"Our objective is to bring about a reduction in chemical load in the plant as well as secure a pest-free tea growing area and we urge the Tea Board of India to work out a long term solution for the industry for benefit of all concerned," he added.