[Assam] Assam Tea could get the geographical indication (GI)

[Pradip Kumar Datta]

Assam Tea
  
— There are indications that the beleaguered tea industry of the State, which has found the going tough for quite sometime now, might see brighter days ahead. The Union Minister of State for Commerce, Jairam Ramesh, on Friday asserted that the prospects of Assam tea have brightened in the wake of several new developments. Ramesh also said that Assam tea could get the geographical indication (GI) – so essential for establishing Assam orthodox tea as a global brand -- very soon. Among the developments that augur well for the future of Assam tea is the readiness on the part of Pakistan to facilitate import of Assam tea through rail. Till now, the existing mode of export has been through the Guwahati-Haldia-Singapore-Colombo-Karachi route – something that defies logic and comprehension. Last year India exported 16 million kg tea to Pakistan, with Assam’s share being 2 million kg. Now, with this major transportation constraint removed, one can expect a definite increase in
 export to Pakistan. The minister also rightfully pointed out that as far as export of tea is concerned, all along our obsession had been with the volume rather than the value. In the long run, it is the quality that counts, and only by ensuring quality control, we can hope to effect an increase in our export volumes. The GI status looking almost a certainty for Assam tea, it puts the producing State under an obligation to ensure that the quality of the exports matches international norms. It is the only way through which Assam can restore its former glory in the export market. The GI should be of great help in brand building and promotion of Assam tea. The recently-launched Special Purpose Tea Fund that provides loans and subsidies for tea gardens is also said to be yielding positive results. The fund is for re-plantation of old tea bushes, which is having a debilitating impact on both yield and quality of tea produced in the State. Increased competition in the global tea
 due to the emergence of new players like Kenya and Sri Lanka, falling exports, and a decline in domestic consumption are the main factors behind the slump in the State’s tea industry. While intervention from the government is welcome, it is a fact that the greater responsibility of restoring the waning glory of Assam tea rests with the producers. It is for them to capitalize and build on the generous gesture of the Government.


       
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