The industry and the government spoke in one voice and mooted a partnership with the small growers and bought leaf factories (BLFs). Addressing the domestic industry and a host of foreign delegates at the International Tea Convention in the city, L V Saptarishi, additional secretary commerce & industry said that the BLFs have emerged as independent growers and the industry must explore ways of forging a partnership with them.
R K Krishna Kumar, vice-chairman of Tata Tea, said that the industry must enlist support from the co-operatives and BLFs and bring them into the mainstream, which ultimately would be the model of sutainability.
Saptarishi also pointed out that such a partnership was even more important when the situation is such that the industry cannot carry the old baggage under the given social cost.
N K Das, chairman of the Tea Board, in his presentation also said that India
