'Poor practices affecting south Indian tea'

The major concern in respect of south Indian tea is its quality. Coarse plucking by a few growers and poor manufacturing practices followed in some of the tea factories have resulted in deterioration of quality and also affected prices.

Addressing the 112th annual Upasi conference and presenting 'The golden leaf India Awards: Southern Tea Competition 2005?, EVKS Elangovan, minister of state for commerce and industry, said it is essential to address this issue of quality and "I call upon Upasi (United Planters Association of South India) to take a leading role."

"By instituting tea awards a first step towards enhancing the quality profile of south Indian teas has been taken after reformatting field practices, re-engineering factory processes and restructuring business policies," said Anil Bhandari, president of Upasi.

"By holding the tea competition, we plan to unfold the hidden vistas of quality characteristics of south Indian tea from being one that fits into a mass market category to a position of exclusivity where it has strived hard to belong," he added.

At the awards, corporates dominated the scene with only a few small growers showing up.

The following are the winners: Nilgiris: CTC leaf - Darmona Tea Industries, CTC fanning "" Darmona Tea Industries, CTC dust "" Darmona Tea Industries, Orthodox whole leaf - Havukal Tea and Produce Company, Orthodox brokens "" Craigmore Plantation India, Orthodox fanning "" Havukal Tea and Produce Company, Orthodox dust "" Craigmore Plantation India.

Karnataka and other regions: CTC leaf - Goomankhan (Joonktolle Tea Industries), CTC fanning "" Goomankhan (Joonktolle Tea Industries), CTC dust - Thirunelveli Manjolai (BBTC), Orthodox whole leaf - Palgat, Siruvani (Bhavani Tea and Produce Company), Orthodox brokens "" Palgat, Siruvani (Bhavani Tea and Produce Company), Orthodox fanning - Madurai, Kolukkumalai (Kottagudi Plantations).

High Ranges: CTC leaf "" Surianalle estate (Harrison Malayalam), CTC fanning "" Letchmi (Kannan Devan Hills Plantations), CTC dust "" Surianalle (Harrison Malayalam) Orthodox wholesale "" Kadalaar (Kannan Devan Hills Plantations), Orthodox brokens "" Chundavurrai (Kannan Devan Hills Plantations), Orthodox fanning "" Chundavurrai (Kannan Devan Hills Plantations), Orthodox dust "" Chundavurrai (Kannan Devan Hills Plantations).

Travancore: CTC leaf "" Karimtharuvi (Malankara Plantation), CTC fanning - Moongalar Harrisons Malayalam, CTC dust "" Pasuparai (Highland Produce Company, AVT group), Orthodox whole leaf "" Pattumallay Estate (Harrison Malayalam), Orthodox brokens "" Pattumallay Estate (Harrison Malayalam).

Waynad: CTC leaf - Silver Cloud estates, CTC fanning - Attikunna (Parry Agro Industries), CTC dust "" Silver Cloud Estates, Orthodox whole leaf - Wentworth (Harrison Malayalam), Orthodox brokens (Harrison Malayalam), Orthodox dust "" Arrapetta (Harrison Malayalam).

Anamallais: CTC Leaf "" Waterfall estate(west), CTC fanning "" Waterfall Estate (west), CTC dust "" Waterfall Estate(West) , Orthodox whole leaf "" Thay Mudi (Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation).