Agartala, Dec 17: Tripura is poised to strengthen its tea industry with the establishment of its own tea auction centre by next year, a development expected to provide a major boost to the state’s beverage sector and improve earnings for tea producers.
The announcement was made by Samir Ranjan Ghosh, Chairman of the Tripura Tea Development Corporation, while flagging off the ‘Run For Tea – 2025’ programme held in Agartala on Tuesday morning. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from over a thousand people, including ministers, public representatives, senior officials, and prominent personalities from various fields.
The programme was inaugurated by Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Tinku Roy, Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumdar, West Tripura Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Biswajit Shil, Olympian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, and Tea Board of India Deputy Director Raman Lal Baishya were among those present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, speakers highlighted that tea remains the largest industry in Tripura, providing livelihoods to thousands of families across the state. They emphasized that initiatives like ‘Run For Tea’ play a dual role by promoting the brand value of Tripura tea while actively engaging youth in healthy and positive activities, thereby helping steer them away from the menace of drug abuse.
The proposed tea auction centre is expected to resolve long-standing logistical and transportation challenges faced by tea producers in Tripura. Currently, a significant portion of the state’s tea is transported to auction centres in Guwahati and West Bengal, leading to increased production and transportation costs.
Once operational, the in-state auction centre will improve coordination between buyers and sellers, reduce transportation expenses, and ensure better price realisation for tea growers and stakeholders. Tripura presently has 54 tea gardens, including estates run by the state-owned Tripura Tea Development Corporation Limited, the Tripura Cooperative Society, and private owners.
Around 2,800 small tea growers contribute nearly 30 per cent of the state’s annual tea production, which stands at approximately 90 lakh kilograms. More than 60 per cent of this output is currently sold through auction markets outside the state.
The annual ‘Run For Tea – 2025’ aims to promote Tripura tea, renowned for its distinctive aroma and flavour, while spreading awareness about its health benefits and encouraging the consumption of local products in line with the ‘Vocal for Local’ and Swadeshi initiatives.
