THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a): India is one of the largest producers of organic tea with an annual production of around 10 million Kgs. Organic tea cultivation has gained momentum and is grown in all major tea producing states of the country. Organic tea production in the country has increased in recent years, as indicated below:
Year Quantity (M.T)
2017-18 8117.39
2018-19 10831.65
2019-20 11192.81
(Source: Tea Board/APEDA)
(b): The details of Organic tea exported during each of the last three years and the current year and the foreign exchange earned, is given in the following Table:
Year Exported quantity (in MT) Value (in USD Million)
2017-18 5221.72 35.52
2018-19 5897.30 48.76
2019-20 6210.89 49.71
2020-21 (Apr-Aug) 2056.99 16.90
(Source: Tea Board/APEDA)
(c): The export of organic tea has declined marginally by 99.78 M.T (4.63%) during the period April-August 2020-21 over the corresponding period of the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to mitigate the problems faced by tea exporters due to the pandemic, the Tea Board has taken various steps like online issuance of licenses and health certificates, extension of date of filing of various mandatory returns, consultations with stakeholders, buyer-seller meets through video conferencing (VC), establishment of alternative auction platform at Jorhat, Assam, and implementation of a credit card for buyers to improve cash flow on the auction platform etc. It is estimated that with the improvement in the COVID situation worldwide, the demand for tea and export of organic tea will improve significantly.
(d): The Government has accorded due priority to the promotion and development of organic tea farming in the country. The Government of India, through the Tea Board, inter alia, provides financial assistance for conversion to organic by small tea growers and for organic certification to plantation and manufacturing units under the Tea Development & Promotion Scheme. The State-wise details of organic tea cultivation are given below:
State Number of Organic Tea Gardens and Small Holdings Area of Holdings (ha)
Assam 45 3439.87
Mizoram 3 74.00
Nagaland 3 67.90
Tripura 15 93.56
Meghalaya 3 62.47
West Bengal (Darjeeling) 60 11652.34
Sikkim 1 177.46
Tamil Nadu 13 1365.96
Kerala 5 656.00
Himachal Pradesh 4 161.06
All India Total 152 17750.62
Source: Tea Board.
(e): In order to promote export of organic tea, the Tea Board undertakes promotional initiatives such as participation in international trade fairs dedicated to organic products and organising buyer-seller meets. Generic promotion is also undertaken in key markets.
(f): The number of licences issued by Tea Board, to farmers/tea gardens of Assam during the last three years and the current year, is given in the following Table:
Year No of Licenses Issued
2017-18 251
2018-19 393
2019-2020 402
2020-2021(Upto 15 September) 135
Total 1181
Source: Tea Board
From 2017-18 to 2019-20 & in the current Financial Year 2020-21, the Tea Board has provided financial assistance, as detailed below, for development and promotion of tea, including organic tea farming, in the country:
Year Total disbursement
(Rs. Crore)
2017-18 120.44
2018-19 91.57
2019-20 105.52
2020-21
(April to August) 23.27
Total 340.80
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