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8.5 million kilos at Tea Auction

A tea auction, one of the largest recorded in Colombo came under the hammer last week comprising 8.5 million kilos. It opened on a very unresponsive manner but gathered momentum as the sale progressed.

This will no doubt offer a great amount of consolation to those affected by the recent floods. Most of the tea producers are in a state of despair, having lost all confidence in the future. All what they have built over the past decades were nullified within hours.

As much as aid is pouring in from all quarters, let us now look to our chief buyers to support our teas in a more positive manner thereby helping to resurrect an industry that has kept their appetite for this beverage alive for the past six decades.

They should at least pass on the advantage they have derived on a falling parity rate. These are some of our thoughts that we intend passing on to our valued tea buyers. We are compelled to look up to you for assistance, and those involved in the tea industry and trade are confident that our call for assistance will not go unheeded.

This is a good opportunity for you to show your goodwill, and above all you will be helping mostly the smallholder who had been dependent on a few tea bushes for survival.

Bridging the gap between exporters and the market

The Department of Commerce has launched a program called "Bridging the Gap", which is a series of discussions between an exporter and the department's international trade promotion officials to develop market entry strategies for their products in specifically identified international markets. Deputy Director of Commerce, R. D. S. Kumararatne who coordinates the project said the unique feature of this program is that only one company at a time will participate in the discussion which will focus on potential strengths and capacities of the organisation in respect of manufacturing, marketing and exporting and the outcome of it will be conveyed to the network of Sri Lankan trade representatives worldwide, to search possible market opportunities for the products.

Kumararatne said that international market positioning is a very sensitive area as the market condition and product specifications are gradually changing from country to country depending on their geographical, economic and social situations. He was hopeful that the new program would help to bridge the gap between the exporter and the international market requirements by shifting the paradigm from the traditional "looking for a buyer" approach to international market positioning which is at present adopted by less than a handful of Sri Lankan exporters.

"Sri Lankan trade representatives abroad could play a more pro-active role in attracting trade opportunities for Sri Lanka if they could have a better understanding on the capabilities of our exporters," Kumararatne said. He said that the program was designed on par with Consumer Affairs Minister, Ravi Karunanayake's recent call for exporters, urging them to focus more on brand building and value addition rather than exporting unfinished and semi-finished products.

Nayapane tea factory awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification

The tea factory of Nayapane estate owned by Elpitiya Plantations Limited was awarded the ISO 2001:2000 certification by the Det Norske Veritas recently.

The Nayapane estate is in the Pussellawa area in the Kandy district which is a mid country estate.

The tea factory uses traditional orthodox black tea manufacture technology to produce black tea.

The Nayapane tea factory was first certified for ISO 9002:1994 by the Det Norske Veritas in April 2000. The Quality Management System of the factory was revised with the introduction of the ISO 9001:2000 standard. Conversion of the Quality Management System was undertaken by the Human Resource Development Division of Elpitiya Plantations Limited where no outside consultants were involved.

The management team of the estate comprises Chandra Ekanayake Manager, Chandana Gunatilake Assistant Manager, Milan Munasinghe Assistant Manager, G.D. Siriwardena Factory Officer, G. Karthikesulingham Chief Clerk and Chandana Jayawardena ISO System Co-ordinator.

Nayapane tea factory provides specialty orthodox black teas of which BOP Special, BOP PEKOE, PEKOE 1 and FBOP are the main grades which are bought by all the leading tea buyers at the Colombo Tea Auction.

Nayapane tea is mainly exported to Middle East, Japan and European countries.

Pekoe fetches highest price at Tea Auction

Kirkoswald Group, Bogowantalawa in the Upper Dickoya planting district sold a line of Pekoe for Rs. 365 per kilogramme through their brokers Forbes and Walkers at the tea auctions last week.

This was the highest price fetched by the Ex-Estate teas in the Upcountry region at this auction. Kirkoswald Group topped the prices for Dusts by selling a grade of Dust 1 for Rs. 218 per kilo also through Forbes and Walkers Limited.

The other top prices for the Upcountry region are as follows:

Western Medium grown: BOP Rs. 160 by Kenilworth Group and Imboolpitiya Group.

BOPF Rs. 195 by Kenilworth Group Pekoe Rs. 210 by Kenilworth Group and Cooroondeuatte Estate.

Western High Grown: BOP Rs. 203 Moray Group, BOPF Rs. 222 Mattakelle Group, Pekoe Rs. 365 Kirkoswald Group.

Nuwara Eliya Tea: BOP Rs. 190 and Pekoe Rs. 290 Mahagastotte Estate, BOPF Rs. 147 Lovers Leap Estate.

Udapussellawa Tea: BOP Rs 100 High Forest Group and Luckyland Group, BOPF Rs 107 Luckyland Group, Pekoe Rs 165 Gampaha Estate.

Uva Tea: BOP Rs 156 Serendib Estate, BOPF Rs 138 Dyraaba Estate, Pekoe Rs 199 Ampitikande Estate.

Unorthodox Teas

Western High: PF 1 Rs 136 Kotiyagalla Group, BP 1 Rs 144 Kotiyagalla Group, BPS Rs 142 - Abbotleight Group (Florence mark).

Uva High grown: PF 1 Rs 105, BP 1 Rs 118, Poonagalla Group. Medium Grown: PF 1 Rs 127 Belta Group, BP 1 Rs 139 Alakolla Estate, BPS Rs 136 Rothschild Estate.

Off Grades: FGS 1 Rs 158 Moray Group.

Quality Assurance and Product Management for fresh fruit, vegetables

The Post Harvest Technology Group (PHTG) of the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) will conduct a workshop on "Quality Assurance and Product Management for fresh fruit and vegetables" jointly with Crop and Food Research, New Zealand today at the Trans Asia Hotel. The objective of this program is to assist those engaged in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry with maintaining effective quality assurance for fresh fruits and vegetables as well as root and tuber crops.

Dr. Don Brash, Senior Scientist of Crop and Food Research, New Zealand has been invited by the ITI as a guest consultant to the workshop.

Dr. Don Brash is a reputed scientist working very closely with the New Zealand fresh fruit and vegetable industry. His research interests include quality attributes of fruit and vegetables, developing sea freight opportunities for different commodities, modified atmosphere and controlled atmosphere packaging, cold chain management, quality assurance and HACCP.

The workshop which will include detailed presentations on post harvest handling and good post harvest management practices will also discuss aspects such as food laws and regulations, good agricultural practices and quality assurance and HACCP.

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