Lok Sabha Question No. 3480 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-22
Subject: Export of Organic Tea
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Manjulata Mandal, Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Ganesan Selvam, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Dhanush M Kumar, Supriya Sadanand Sule, C.N. Annadurai, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3480 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 nd  MARCH,2023

## EXPORT OF ORGANIC TEA

## 3480. SHRIMATI MANJULATA MANDAL:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRI SELVAM G.:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.:

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has failed to boost export of organic tea from the country though  there is huge potential in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the total quantity of organic tea exported during each of the last three years and the current   year and the foreign exchange earned;
- (d) whether  export  of  organic  tea  has  been  affected  after  COVID-19  pandemic  and  if  so,  the corrective steps taken to promote export of organic tea;
- (e) whether the Government has taken any steps for expanding the cultivable area of organic tea and if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether  the  Tea  Board  has  taken  any  action  for  promotion  of  organic  tea  farming  in  Assam by facilitating certification; and
- (g) if  so,  the  number  of  licenses  issued  to  the  tea  farmers/tea  gardens  of  Assam  and  the  funds allocated for promotion of organic tea farming during the last three years, State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): No, Sir. The export of organic tea in value terms has increased from 49.71 Million USD in 2019-20 to 54.54 Million USD in 2021-22. In order to promote export of organic tea, the Tea

Board undertakes promotional initiatives such as participation in international trade fairs dedicated to organic products and organising buyer-seller meets.

The details of organic tea exported during the last three years, which include the period of COVID19 pandemic, and the current year is given in the following table:

| Year               |   Quantity (in Thousand Kgs.) |   Value (in Million USD) |
|--------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------|
| 2019-20            |                       6210.89 |                    49.71 |
| 2020-21            |                       6164.24 |                    50.75 |
| 2021-22            |                       6060.46 |                    54.54 |
| 2022-23 (Apr-Dec)* |                       4206.98 |                    38.05 |

Source: Tea Board/APEDA

(e) to (g): The Government has accorded due priority to the promotion and development of organic tea farming in the country including Assam.  The Government of India, through the Tea Board, inter alia, provides financial assistance for conversion from conventional to organic cultivation, organic farm inputs, and for organic certification to plantation & manufacturing units under the Tea Development & Promotion Scheme .

The financial assistance extended for promotion of organic tea farming during the last three years and current financial year 2022-23 (till February 2023), State-wise is given below:

| State             |   Financial Assistance (Rs. Lakhs) |
|-------------------|------------------------------------|
| Assam             |                              95.01 |
| Tripura           |                               2.33 |
| Nagaland          |                              38.8  |
| Arunachal Pradesh |                               0.2  |
| Meghalaya         |                               0.25 |
| Sikkim            |                              21.03 |
| Himachal Pradesh  |                               0.43 |
| Tamil Nadu        |                               0.12 |
| Kerala            |                               0.55 |
| Total             |                             158.72 |

Source: Tea Board

Separate licenses for organic tea farming are not required. The number of licences issued by Tea Board to farmers/tea gardens of Assam for cultivation of tea during the last three years and the current year is given in the following Table:

| Year                       |   No. of Licenses Issued |
|----------------------------|--------------------------|
| 2019-20                    |                      402 |
| 2020-21                    |                      310 |
| 2021-22                    |                      613 |
| 2022-2023 (Upto17.03.2023) |                      396 |

Source: Tea Board

During the same period, 30 beneficiaries, who were assisted by the Tea Board, were given organic certification for tea farming.

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