Agartala, Oct 29: Tripura’s tea industry is set for a potential boost with the inauguration of its first tea auction centre in Agartala by Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Thursday, opening up new opportunities for better price realisation, lower transportation costs and wider market access, including the possibility of reaching buyers in neighbouring Bangladesh.
Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma and other dignitaries were present at the inauguration of the Agartala Tea Auction Centre, which is expected to reduce the state’s dependence on auction markets in Guwahati and Kolkata.
The first online auction at the centre fetched Rs 325 per kg for a lot of dust-category Tripura tea, Tripura Tea Development Corporation Ltd chairman Sami Ranjan Barman said, describing the price as an encouraging beginning for the state’s tea industry.
Saha said the new facility would open fresh avenues for Tripura tea in domestic and international markets, with benefits expected to extend from tea garden owners and manufacturers to workers and small growers.
“Today, Tripura has opened its doors to the world,” the chief minister said, adding that the electronic auction platform would allow buyers from different states and countries to access the state’s tea.
Until now, producers had to send their consignments to auction centres outside Tripura, increasing transportation expenses and extending the time required for sales and payments. The new facility is expected to streamline the process, improve price discovery and reduce dependence on intermediaries.
Saha said the Tea Board had decided to provide financial assistance for transportation and marketing to Kolkata and Guwahati to encourage buyers to participate in the Agartala auctions.
The Bangladesh market emerged as a significant opportunity during the inauguration, with tea industry representatives pointing to the geographical proximity of Tripura to neighbouring Bangladesh.
Prabir Dey, who represents Luxmi Tea Company, on of the biggest tea producer in the region, said his factory was around 42 km from the Simangal auction centre in Bangladesh, but the company did not currently send tea there. He said the Agartala facility could improve logistical convenience and potentially open up new commercial opportunities.
However, actual exports to Bangladesh would depend on buyer participation and the necessary trade arrangements.
Ratan Debnath, proprietor of Longtharai International Pvt Ltd said the company had previously faced delays of around 42-45 days in the process of sending tea to the Guwahati auction and receiving payment. He expressed hope that the Agartala centre would improve sales, help manufacturers pay small growers faster and support the expansion of the tea business.
TTDCL chairman Barman said better prices would benefit the entire tea value chain, including workers and owners, while strengthening the state’s economy.
Arunita Phukan Yadav, Executive Director of the Tea Board of India’s North-East Zonal Office, described the launch of the Tripura Tea Auction Centre as a historic day for the state’s tea industry, saying it would facilitate better price discovery for stakeholders across the supply chain, from small tea growers to buyers. She said that although several tea auction centres operate across the Northeast,
Meantime, Chief Minister Saha also highlighted government initiatives since 2018 to support tea garden communities through higher daily wages, land pattas and assistance in education and other areas.
The new auction centre is expected to provide a more accessible marketing platform for Tripura’s tea producers. Its long-term impact will depend on sustained buyer participation, competitive bidding and the extent to which savings in transportation and marketing translate into better returns for growers.
