New Delhi, December 11 (IANS). According to the latest Tea Board data, India’s tea exports in value terms increased by 13.18 per cent to Rs 3,403.64 crore during the first half (April-September) of the current financial year, compared to Rs 3,007.19 crore in the same period last year.
In volume terms, tea exports during the period increased by 8.67 per cent to 122.55 million kg as against 112.77 million kg last year.
India exports tea to more than 25 countries around the world. UAE, Iraq, Iran, Russia, US and UK are major importers of tea from India.
UAE, Iraq and US imported tea from India worth US$ 131.18 million, US$ 88.54 million and US$ 77.62 million respectively during 2023-2024.
India is one of the top five tea exporters in the world, accounting for about 10 percent of total exports.
India’s Assam, Darjeeling and Nilgiri teas are considered to be among the finest teas in the world. Most of the tea exported from India is ‘black tea’, which accounts for about 96 percent of the total exports.
The types of tea exported through India include black tea, regular tea, green tea, herbal tea, masala tea and lemon tea.
Of these, black tea, regular tea and green tea constitute about 80 per cent, 16 per cent and 3.5 per cent of the total tea exported from India.
India’s total tea exports during 2023-24 were 250.73 million kg in quantity and valued at US$ 776 million.
India has taken several steps to boost production, create a distinctive brand for Indian tea and ensure the welfare of families associated with the tea industry.
Small tea growers are an emerging sector, contributing about 52 percent of the total production. At present there are about 2.30 lakh small tea producers present in the supply chain.
The Government of India, through the Tea Board, has facilitated the formation of 352 Self Help Groups (SHGs), 440 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and 17 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs).
Various seminars/interactions are conducted with STGs for quality harvesting, capacity building and crop management.
Apart from this, assistance has also been provided for purchase of pruning machines and mechanical harvesters. Mini tea factories have also been set up to encourage entrepreneurs and unemployed youth.
1.16 million employees are directly employed in the Indian tea industry and the same number of people are indirectly associated with it.
–IANS
SKT/ABM
