Citing "acute financial stress"—evidenced by over of organized estates losing cash and prices continuing to fall in 2025—the Indian Tea Association (ITA) has called on the government to intervene immediately with a comprehensive stabilization plan.
Citing "acute financial stress"—evidenced by over of organized estates losing cash and prices continuing to fall in 2025—the Indian Tea Association (ITA) has called on the government to intervene immediately with a comprehensive stabilization plan.
ITA's Key Demands
The ITA's appeal focuses on four main areas of action to revive the tea sector:
- Price Stability: To address the market surplus and declining prices, the association is demanding the use of production control measures paired with increased export support mechanisms.
- Trade Protection: To shield domestic producers, the ITA urges the government to set a Minimum Import Price (MIP) for incoming tea. They also seek tighter controls on low-duty imports from nations like Kenya and Nepal, which are largely blamed for dragging down local prices.
- Export Enhancement: The ITA is pushing the government to boost global competitiveness by resolving trade obstacles, including the threat of new US tariff regimes. They also recommend revising the RoDTEP export incentives specifically for orthodox tea targeting major international markets.
- Domestic Support: For internal relief, the industry has requested quicker regulatory approvals for new pesticides and clearer rules concerning the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). They also seek specific aid, such as a transport subsidy and a dedicated relief package for the struggling Darjeeling tea region.
