Govt takes 50-yr plan for tea sector

In the face of increased global competition, the country's tea export has witnessed a sharp fall in recent time. The Ministry of Commerce has outlined the plan titled “Road map of development: Bangladesh tea industry” to revive the country's faltering tea industry. A proposal on the ministry's plan will be placed at the meeting of the cabinet committee on economic affairs on December 28 for its approval. Finance Minister AMA Muhith will preside over the meeting. In 2002 Bangladesh was among the world's top tea-exporting nations, and in production it ranked ninth, behind India, China, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Indonesia, Turkey, Japan and Vietnam. But now with domestic demand growing and production stagnant, Bangladesh is making small volumes of export. “We have prepared a draft road map for the development of tea sector,” Senior Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon told the Dhaka Tribune. He said: “We want to produce high-quality tea for global market to raise our export volumes. Besides, a proper plan is also necessary to meet the growing local demand.” Mamoon said the rise of middle class in Bangladesh has boosted the local demand of tea. The sector is today dominated by Bangladeshi conglomerates, including M M Ispahani Limited, Kazi and Kazi Tea, the Transcom Group, James Finlay Bangladesh, the Orion Group, the Abul Khair Group and Duncan Brothers Bangladesh Limited. According to the draft, the tea output in the country's 162 tea gardens will be increased to 110m kg in 2025 which is now only 80m kg. Last year the country's tea production was only 66m kg. Under the plan, a total of new 10,000 hectres of land will be brought under tea production in next 10 years and utilisation of land will be increased to 55% from existing 51.42%. A total of 1,838 tea processing machines will be procured for additional production of tea in the country. A sum of 30,000 permanent employment opportunities will be created in the country's tea industry in 50 years. The government will take 11 development projects of Tk967 crore. These will include construction of the house for 15,000 tea garden workers in next 15 years. The draft also says that there is a possibility of tea production in the country's northern part along with the three hilly districts. The authorities will construct 75 dams, water reserves and 47 km roads in the tea production areas.