Lok Sabha Question No. 1733 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-27
Subject: Export of Tea
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1733 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 th  JULY, 2022

## EXPORT OF TEA

## 1733.   SHRI A. RAJA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the volume of tea export by India in the last five years, year-wise;
- (b) whether there is a decline in the export of tea, despite Sri Lanka not exporting;
- (c) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the consignment of tea was rejected by some countries recently;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (f) the efforts made by the Government to ensure that quality tea free from insecticide and pesticide is  exported and to take advantage of the international tea trade to export maximum, thereby indirectly helping tea plantation growers?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

## (a): The volume of tea export from India in the last five years is given below:

| Years   |   Qty (M.Kgs.) |   Value (Rs. |
|---------|----------------|--------------|
| 2017-18 |         256.57 |      5064.88 |
| 2018-19 |         254.5  |      5506.84 |
| 2019-20 |         241.34 |      5457.1  |
| 2020-21 |         203.79 |      5311.53 |
| 2021-22 |         200.79 |      5415.78 |

* Source: Tea Board

(b) & (c): There was a decline in export of tea in last few years. Reportedly, this was due to nonavailability of containers, dislocation in shipping schedules, lock-down and uncertainty in market due to covid-19 and disruptions in overall global trade. However, the export of tea during JanuaryMay, 2022 was 83.49 M. Kgs. (Value Rs. 2116.75 Crores) as compared to 77.26 M. Kgs. (Value Rs. 2036.37 Crores) during the corresponding period of last year, which shows a growth of 8.06% in volume and 3.94% in value term. As per quick estimates value of tea exports in June, 2022 is Rs. 500.03 Crores against Rs. 390.28 Crores in June, 2021 showing a growth of 28.12%.

(d) & (e): Indian Tea Exporters' Association has confirmed to the Tea Board that return of any tea consignment has not been reported.

(f): It has been a continuous endeavour of the Tea Board and tea industry to strategize ways and means  to  ensure  quality  of  tea  being  exported  from  India.  The  following  measures  are  being undertaken by the Tea Board on sustained basis:

- i. Enforcement of 'Plant Protection Code (PPC)' in the plantations for 'Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)' and the 'Factory Safety Management System (FSMS)' at the factory level for 'Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)'.
- ii. Mandatory testing of sampled teas (twice in a year) for checking conformance with the FSSAI parameters at the factory level
- iii. Regular awareness camps/workshops for small tea  growers at the  grass  root  level  for imparting training on GAP.
- iv. Mandatory closure of all the factories in early December every year also helps in arresting infusion of sub-standard teas into the system

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