India, China Join Hands to Promote Tea Globally

Prelims level : Economy- Trade Mains level : India and its neighborhood- relations, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints.
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In News

  • Two apex industry organizations, Indian Tea Association (ITA) and China Tea Marketing Association (CTMA), have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote green and black tea consumption in major tea markets in Europe, the U.S., Russia and West Asia, besides India and China. The pact could also involve organization of joint events.

Background:

  • China imported 30 million kg of black tea annually amid its rising popularity in the country where green tea had earlier held sway.
  • Indian exports stood at about 8.7 million kg in 2017 with the market being dominated by Sri Lanka and Kenya.
  • An export of 15 million kg to china was being targeted next year. It may be mentioned that Tea Board and ITA had organised a tea delegation to China in October to boost trade between the two countries where the trade deficit between two countries stand almost 60 billion in favor of china
  • According to China that it would not look to India as a major market as prices were more attractive in their domestic market. China was the world’s third largest exporter (mainly of green tea).
  • Asia had taken the lead role in forging this alliance which, it felt, would promote sustainable development of the tea industry in the two countries, including that of the small tea sector.
  • The MoU (memorandum of understanding) covers the areas of trade promotion, intellectual property protection and technology exchange
  • It may be attributed to “Wuhan spirit” between India and china

TEA:

Conditions of Growth:

1.Tea bush is a tropical and sub-tropical plant and thrives well in hot and humid climate. There is a very close relation between climate, the yield and the quality of tea.

2.The ideal temperature for its growth is 20°-30°C and temperatures above 35°C and below 10°C are harmful for the bush.

3.It requires 150-300 cm annual rainfall which should be well distributed throughout the year. While prolonged dry spell is harmful for tea, high humidity, heavy dew and morning fog favour rapid development of young leaves.

4.Alternate waves of warm and cool winds are very helpful for tea leaves. Tea is a shade-loving plant and develops more vigorously when planted along with shady trees.

5.Tea cultivation in India is highly concentrated in a few selected pockets. Following three areas of tea cultivation are identified according to their importance as tea producers and their location.

  • North-Eastern India
  • South India
  • North-West India.
  • North-Eastern India:

    • This is the most important tea producing region of India accounting for about three-fourth production and about the same percentage of area under tea production.
      1. Assam (Surma Valley, Brahmaputra valley),
      2. West Bengal -The Duars in Koch Bihar and Jalpaiguri districts, Darjeeling district

    South India:

    • In South India tea is produced in Nilgiri, Cardamom, Palni and Anaimalai hills in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka states

    North West India:

    • Some of tea is produced in Dehra Dun, Almora and Garhwal districts of Uttaranchal and in Kangra Valley and Mandi district of Hiamchal Pradesh.
    • Green tea is produced in Kaangra valley of Himachal Pradesh.

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