NEW DELHI, Aug 14: The commerce minister BB Ramaiah has underlined the need to develop market-specific strategies to promote Indian teas in various regions.

Presiding over the first meeting of the advisory committee on tea in Delhi on Wednesday, Ramaiah said major tea companies would have to step up their efforts to tap the latest technology to improve the efficiency of their operations.

Drawing attention to R and D, the minister said greater attention would have to be paid to increase productivity per hectare as well as improve quality both of which would ensure growth against stiff competition. He said the country lagged behind other nations in production, innovation and development.

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