Tea producing countries should form common organisation - Plantation Industries Minister

Chaminda PERERA

The Government is set to obtain the membership of the World Tea Organisation in a bid to secure a stable price for tea in the world market.

Leading tea producing countries and importers at an international forum in China recently decided to set up an organisation through which tea producers could determine a fixed price for tea. A stable price for tea can not be maintained in the world market at present owing to the lack of integrity among tea producing countries.

Plantation Industries Minister D.M. Jayaratne at a meeting with all stakeholders in the tea industry recently said an organisation for tea is a pre requsite for the exchange and promotion of expertise and research in the industry.

Tea growers worldwide could be brought under one banner and their expertise integrated into the industry's development through this organisation.

Jayaratne said at present the consumers are manipulating the world tea market as tea production is far ahead of annual demand and producers have no unanimity over price determination.

"An organisation will help introduce new hybrid varieties without which the cousumer's demands for various types such as green tea, white tea can not be met,..Only Thirty eight of 617 factories have taken ISO and HACCP certifications and other factories should be encouraged to obtain these standard certifications to ensure their product quality, the Minister said.

The tea production process from plucking to packeting tea should comply with international standards, he said.

The Tea Research Institute's Director Dr. Sarath Abesinghe said China grows many varieties of tea and countries such as Kenya have sought Chinese assistance to grow these varieties.

Sri Lanka is among the top tea producing countries in the world and should device new strategies with the help of its international counterparts for the growing of various tea varieties.

Total tea production in the world is 3.5 million metric tonnes of which black tea secures 66%, of the production while Green tea takes up 28% of the market and other varieties take up 6% of the market.

Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Lalith Hettiarachi, the Tea Growers Socieity's Vice President Damitha Perera and Ministry Secretary Indrani Sugathadasa were also present.