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Tea producing nations form forum at Kenya meet

Indrani Dutta

Initiative to chalk out agenda ahead of FAO meeting

KOLKATA: For the first time, tea producing countries have got together to form a forum to interact with each other on matters of common interest and also to act as a lobby on issues like non-tariff barriers. This decision was taken at the recently concluded meeting on tea held in Kenya under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

At the meet, which deliberated on various topics including the oversupply conditions in the world tea market and extension of area under tea, the need for a producers' forum was felt to facilitate close interaction among the producing nations.

The participating countries include India, China, Sri Lanka, Kenya and also Bangladesh and Indonesia. In 2005, these six countries accounted for about 85 per cent of the total world tea production of 1,918 million tonnes.

Sources told The Hindu that although India and Sri Lanka had been trying for long to create such an association, matters started moving after Kenya too joined the chorus. China, which produces green tea mainly but also substantial black tea, has also joined, sources said.

Sources said the forum was likely to promote collaboration among producers in respect of research and technology development and on matters like minimum pesticide residues. Ahead of FAO meetings, the forum will get together to chalk out its agenda so as to provide a cohesive industry view.

Citing an instance of the need for such a forum, sources said that at the Kenya meet, while countries like India, Sri Lanka and Kenya opposed any extension of area under tea given the glut situation, Bangladesh and Vietnam were in favour of expanding acreage.

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