Lok Sabha Question No. 1373 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-02
Subject: Tea Promotion and Research
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1373 (H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 02 nd  MAY, 2016

## TEA PROMOTION AND RESEARCH

## 1373 (H). DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL "NISHANK":

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

- (a) the current ranking of India in global tea production and the steps taken by the Government to promote farming of tea in various States of the country including Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh;
- (b) the details of the schemes launched by the Government for promoting research in different disciplines relating to tea production along with the amount allocated for this purpose during the last five years;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government for capacity building in tea farming, processing and marketing and the action plan prepared keeping in view the increasing use of organic and herbal tea; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government for coordination in research on tea in the universities and research institutes of the country?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a): India ranks second in the global tea production. Several steps have been taken by the Government to promote farming of tea in various states of the country including Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Tea Board, through its XII Plan Scheme viz. 'Tea Development and Promotion Scheme' extends financial assistance to the tea estates and also to the small tea growers for undertaking new planting, replanting, rejuvenation, pruning, irrigation, field mechanization etc. Financial assistance for development of nurseries and setting up of tea processing factories has been extended for development of small tea growers of Himachal Pradesh, non -traditional tea area of North Eastern Region andIdukki district of Kerala.

The Tea Board has approved financial assistance of Rs.7/ -per plant as subsidy for setting up of tea nursery by Uttarakhand Tea Development Board. A sum of Rs.25 lakhs has been provided by the Tea Board during 2015 -16 for Himachal Pradesh.

- (b): Under the Research and Development component of the XIIPlan Scheme of the Tea Board, assistance has been provided for various purposes, including financial assistance to Tea Research Association (TRA) and United Planters Association of South India -Tea Research Foundation (UPASI -TRF), research funding for projects to Institutes other than TRA and UPASI, financial assistance to universities for running specialized course on Tea and conducting seminar, conference and workshops for dissemination of research output.

Expenditure in the last five years for Research and Development incurred is given as follows:

| Year      | Amount (Rs. In Cr.)   |
|-----------|-----------------------|
| 2011 - 12 | 25.48                 |
| 2012 - 13 | 9.58                  |
| 2013 - 14 | 19.49                 |
| 2014 - 15 | 16.61                 |
| 2015 - 16 | 15.56 (Provisional)   |

- (c): Tea Board regularly conducts training programmes, workshops, seminar etc. on all aspects of cultivation practices and on Plant Protection Code for capacity building of large and small tea growers. Study tours are also organisedfor facilitating interaction between the growers of different areas to enable them to improve the knowledge of tea cultivation process.

Tea Board implements programmes to build capacity amongst growers and manufacturers with the objective of improving value addition, warehousing, adoption of Quality Management Systems (QMS), implementation and certification of FSMS (Food Safety Management System -ISO22000) and increase in production of orthodox teas for the export markets. A capacity centrehas been established at Quality Control Laboratory, Siliguri, West Bengal with the aimof imparting training related to organic cultivation to planters/stakeholders of tea industry.

Under the Market Promotion Component of the XII Plan Scheme, sustained efforts are made to brand and promote Teas of India origin through advertising, participation in international trade fairs and exhibitions, buyer -seller meets and trade delegations to key export markets.

- (d): Government, through the Tea Board, provides funds for coordination of research on tea in different universities and research institutes. The Tea Board provides Rs.3.00 Lakhs grant in aid per year to Sikkim University, North Bengal University and Assam Agricultural University for different tea related courses. In addition, funding to the tune of Rs.19.65 Lakh has been sanctioned for the research project on development of bio -pesticide against fungal disease of tea using phosphate solubilizing Rhizobacteria to ViswaBharati Central University, West Bengal.

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