What is the current scenario of the Indian Tea Market?
The Indian domestic market is growing at the rate of 5% and the total consumption is 700 to 750 million kg. The industry is witnessing a steep improvement in the last few years. With the government introducing new initiatives I think the industry will see bright days ahead. Can you elaborate on the growth the tea industry has been witnessing? Tea production was in a very bad phase for several years. Even now the industry has not fully recuperated from the situation. But for the past one-and-a-half years or so some growth is being witnessed. But still the cost of the product is lesser than the cost of production of the corporate. The industry has still not become remunerative. What are the supporting initiatives that you have received from the government? The government is reviving the Rs 4,500-crore Special Purpose Tea Fund (SPTF) for the rejuvenation and re-plantation of tea bushes. This will be implemented over a period of 15 years. The government is making this move to increase the
