Agartala, March 12:
Tripura is on the verge of establishing its own tea auction center, announced the state’s Industry Minister, Santana Chakma, during an event titled “Run For Tea.”
The program, aimed at raising awareness about the local tea industry and its health benefits, was jointly organized by the Tea Board of India and Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC) in Agartala on Tuesday.
Hundreds of tea enthusiasts participated in the run, which kicked off from the tea corner of Birchan State Library.
Minister Chakma, along with Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Tinku Roy, former Minister and MLA Rampada Jamatia, TTDCL chairman Samir Ranjan Ghosh, and representatives of the Regional Office of Tea Board of India, flagged off the event.
They also joined the runners in traversing the streets of the capital city.
Minister Chakma emphasized that the run aimed to boost tea sales by promoting Tripura tea and raising awareness about its health benefits.
She announced that for further promotion and easing the sale of local tea the foundation stone for the tea auction center of the state would be laid on March 14.
She claimed that since the BJP-led government took office in Tripura in 2018, various initiatives have been undertaken to promote the state’s tea industry.
Chakma added that the focus has been on encouraging locals to consume indigenous tea under the “vocal for local” campaign, while also enhancing its branding by releasing its logo.
The establishment of an auction center in Tripura has been a longstanding demand to facilitate tea sales and simplify transportation, reducing costs and logistical challenges associated with sending tea to the existing auction center in Guwahati.
Furthermore, discussions are underway to explore the possibility of exporting Tripura tea to Bangladesh through the land customs of Tripura.
Tripura has a rich history of tea production dating back to 1916 when it was a royal state. Today, with 54 tea estates, hundreds of small tea growers, and 22 tea processing factories, Tripura ranks sixth among the tea-producing states in India.
