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Planters of Darjeeling tea allege that a number of tea importers are passing on Nepalese tea as Darjeeling tea at a lot decrease costs, inflicting big losses to the tea estates in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district. Some are additionally allegedly promoting blends of the 2 teas because the world-famous Darjeeling selection.
Darjeeling tea is India’s geographical indication-tagged product. Additionally it is alleged that some native merchants are exporting Nepal tea as Darjeeling tea, driving down costs of the premium genuine Darjeeling tea within the world market.
“We’ve got made a illustration to the commerce minister to right away take up the problem of Nepal tea and impose an anti-dumping obligation to guard Darjeeling tea commerce,” Sandeep Mukherjee, principal advisor to the Darjeeling Tea Affiliation, advised ET.
Tea originating from Nepal may be freely imported in India below the free commerce settlement between the 2 international locations.
In line with merchants, whereas Darjeeling tea prices Rs 340-400 per kg on the auctions, the orthodox number of Nepalese tea is out there for lower than half that value.
The issue has slowed the restoration of the Darjeeling tea business from the disaster of 2017, when the tea gardens have been shut for months as a result of political agitation. “The four-month-long closure of the gardens in 2017 as a result of agitation within the hills had impacted the Darjeeling tea business in a large means. We’re nonetheless bearing the brunt of that closure,” mentioned Anshuman Kanoria, chairman of Indian Tea Exporters Affiliation. “Non-availability of Darjeeling tea throughout that interval paved the best way for Nepal teas within the Indian market, and subsequently to the worldwide markets.”
He mentioned it’s tough for tea drinkers to distinguish between Darjeeling tea and Nepal tea.
Kanoria mentioned that though the primary flush and second flush of Darjeeling teas have discovered consumers this 12 months, it has grow to be tough for the commerce to search out consumers for the rains or monsoon teas.
Monsoon teas account for practically 60% of Darjeeling’s manufacturing, which dwindled to six.7 million kg final 12 months from 11 million kg a decade in the past. “Nepal tea is destroying the Darjeeling tea business and it’s excessive time that the federal government took some steps immediately. In any other case, the survival of the Darjeeling tea business can be tough,” Kanoria mentioned.
