It is encouraging to note that Bangladesh's tea production surged to a record high of 14.74 million kgs in September this year. Reportedly, the tea production in September this year witnessed a growth of 17 percent compared to September last year. Industry insiders are of the opinion that favorable weather condition. distribution of subsidised fertiliser and regular monitoring of the Ministry of Commerce and BTB have facilitated the tea garden in boosting production.
Tea is globally one of the most popular and lowest cost beverages, next only to water. The habit of drinking hot cups of tea throughout the day started to become popular since the 19th century in the Indian sub-continent and it still remains the most favourite of all drinks in Bangladesh. This remains to be said that once Bangladesh was one of the major growers and exporters of special kind of tea that was most sought after by connoisseurs in England and other European countries. The Sylhet tea used to be sold at high price in London markets.
There is no denying that we are exporting tea to many different countries after meeting local demand, but the export volume will grow if production increases further. Tea industry had long been one of the major contributors to our national exchequer.
There is a need to revise
our trade policy to
discourage imports of
tea and boost exports of
this aromatic beverage
But over the last decades, the industry has confronted with a multitude of problems like lack of capital and modern machinery, lower yield per hectare and lower market price. There is also lack of perennial water source for irrigation during dry season.
Tea gardens need constant supply of utilities like water, gas and electricity to keep the factories running so that production may go up. We hope the departments concerned will look into this matter with due gravity. Also, there is a need to revise our trade policy to discourage imports of tea and boost exports of this aromatic beverage.
Of the 167 tea gardens in the country, 135 are located in the Sylhet division. But rough weather often hampers the country’s tea production in this region,
Therefore, BTRI should look forward to conduct research and invent rough weather-friendly varieties of tea. Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) should devise a plan to produce newer varieties of tea as various kinds of tea like lemon tea, masala tea, ginger tea and tulsi tea are gaining popularity in the world market.