Tripura government planning to set up tea auction center
In an effort to boost the century-old tea industry in the state, the Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC) is contemplating setting up its own auction center at Dharmanagar. Dharmanagar borders southern Assam which also grows tea and their produce could be auctioned at the proposed center, TTDC Chairperson Santosh Saha said. "The tea industry is Tripura's only surviving industry," Saha added. Here's more.
Tripura produces 3.58 crore kilograms of green tea leaf annually
"We'll create a brand for Tripura tea, which will compete with Assam tea and other brands of the country and also try to turn TTDC into a profit-making public sector undertaking", Saha, who assumed charge on July 4, said. The northeastern state currently produces over 3.58cr kg of green tea leaf annually, most of which are sent to Assam and West Bengal for auction.
6,885 hectares of land is under tea cultivation in Tripura
The state has a total of 58 tea gardens, 42 individually owned, 13 run by cooperative societies, and three run by the TTDC. Apart from these, there are nearly 3,000 small tea growers. Tea production began in Tripura at Hiracherra tea estate in the present-day Unakoti district in 1916. As per latest reports, 6,885 hectares of land is under tea cultivation in Tripura.
Will make Tripura tea a 'brand', says official
Assistant Director (Tea Development) of Tea Board of India Diganta Barman had recently said, "Work is on for a logo and brand-positioning of Tripura tea. We are also planning to develop tea tourism. We are trying to find a good theme."
