Tea: STGs from round the globe joining hands hoping to ensure fair price

SILIGURI: Stepping out of individual country boundary, small tea growers from round the globe, are in process of developing a close bondage at international platform. There are different countries with different economic platform or different industrial scenario. But the toughest problems for all STG’s everywhere are same- like ensuring fair price.

"Despite being major contributor to the tea industry globally, STGs are never sure of fair price. Ability to manage value chain to increase profit margin and to produce quality tea is another major identified area. Thus, sustainability of STGs come under question,"said Mr. Bijoy Gopal Chakroborty, who represented Indian STGs at a recent meet in Indonesia to prepare the draft report of International Group on Tea that functions under Food And Agriculture Organization of United Nations.

In the draft report, working group has identified some important issues and challenges of STGs globally. The most important among these is sustainability through improvement of productivity, quality control, farmers education, development of manufacturing unit, fair price or rise in profit margin. The report emphasized on development of strong commitment and powerful bodies from government and international bodies such as FAO to remain dedicated to support smallholder growers.

"The WG concluded urging few specific actions to be taken up as early as possible,"said Mr. Chakroborty. These include formulation and implementation of proper branding strategy, marketing policy. Value building of a slogan like, "Tea produced by International Tea Growers."Finding out ways to enable farmers to ensure GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) by ensuring minimal dependency on inorganic growth enhancers.

However, "This internationalization of issues by STGs is a good step for the betterment of whole industry. But, beside these internationally accepted common angles, there are many country specific matters. Those also will demand careful and sincere handling by the STGs to ensure best result out of this global effort,"opined tea experts.