Production seen scaling a peak this year
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
COIMBATORE, Dec 29: Chances a record tea crop this year is bright with the south producing 167.4 million kgs of tea till October this year, according to chairman of the Coimbatore Tea Trade Association UV Saraf.Addressing the 15th annual general meeting of the association in Coimbatore saraf said with favourable weather conditions prevailing elsewhere in the country, a better yield was expected this year. South produced 180.4 million kgs in 1996 as against an all time record crop of 186 million kgs in 1995. Stating that all India exports mark, which had dropped last year to 153.7 million kgs, was also likely to increase, he said the country exported tea to the tune of 156.3 million kgs till October this year as against the 129.33 million kgs during the corresponding period in 1996. Saraf said the demand from exporters improved this year due to substantial shortfall in crop in some parts of the globe and increased off-take of CIS countries. With Kenya reported shortfall in crop, competition for
exports of good liquoring varieties of tea had gone up, he said. Saraf said tea had now fallen in line with other consumer products and the industry had to gear itself up to face the demand for better quality and packing similar to international standards. For the first time in recent years, the industry in the south had realised better sales price average for tea in 1997, he added. The auction centres in the south, Kochi, Coonoor and Coimbatore, achieved an average price of Rs.57.55 per kg during the last eleven months as against Rs.41.72 the previous year,he said. To improve the performance of the Coimbatore centre, the association had decided to implement various measures like according registration to 30 more buyer members. They want to change of auction day, extended closures of catalogues to accommodate producers to transport their cargo and prompt dates to buyers to clear their cargo, Saraf said. Larger offerings would be made available at the local centre for the benefit of the traders,
particularly packers of domestic market, he said.
Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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