Tea Board to undertake a slew of measures to boost tea industry

KOLKATA: Tea Board of India has decided to undertake a slew of measures to boost the Indian tea industry. The measures were discussed at a recent board meeting held in Kumarakom in Kerala.

The Tea Board has taken up a proposal for extending grant-in-aid of Rs 3 lakh per annum to the Sikkim University for running a specialised course - post grdauate diploma in tea development and management. It will help in tea development and management. The move will help in development of tea industry by providing technical manpower.

The board has also taken up a proposal for setting up a laboratory at the Tea Board headquarter to coordinate and monitor the quality of tea and in particular total iron content in tea and its infusion.

The lab will undertake continuous in-house monitoring of iron filings in tea samples collected from different tea estates as well as from the market from time to time. Determination of iron filings in tea samples by the board will help the tea traders who are reported to face harassment from PFA authorities in various states.

The Tea Board has also discussed a proposal to engage IIM Kolkata to undertake a study on the organisational structure and management of the board and to suggest suitable measures for improving the working efficiency of teh board.

The Board also discussed the possibility of providing financial support to small tea growers affected by hailstorm in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu and Chopra block of West Bengal during the period March-May.