Micro tea factory inaugurated in Tamil Nadu

UDHGAMANDALAM: A micro tea factory, claimed to be the first of its kind in the private sector, was inaugurated on Thursday near Kotagiri, which would produce high quality orthodox tea priced at Rs 300-500.

Set up at a cost of Rs 10 lakh, the factory located at Jakkanarai, has a capacity to produce 25 to 40 kg of tea per day, which would benefit small growers, holding three to five acres of tea estate, Jayaraj, the factory owner, said.

Though the ‘bought leaf ’ factories in and around Nilgiris District pay Rs 10 to Rs 12 per kg of green leaves, this factory would pay Rs 30 to Rs 40 to the growers, he said.

R Ambalavanan, executive director, Tea Board of India, who inaugurated the factory, told reporters that the board would monitor the functioning of the factory for two months and depending on the success, would recommend small growers to start such units for themselves.