Kerala planters worried over drop in Kochi tea sale price

Kerala planters are trying to get the help of the State govt to tide about the crisis arising out of a decline in tea costs at the Kochi auctions.

The Affiliation of Planters of Kerala has urged the Pinarayi Vijayan govt to issue necessary directions to Kerala co-operative Supplyco to increase its procurement from the Kochi tea auctions. Purchases produced by the State agency, just one of the significant consumers at the auctions, declined in the previous two months. If the govt entity procures far more quantities from the auctions, it will produce a good need and quickly, costs will maximize, said Ajith BK, secretary, APK.

Government help

The growers feel that the govt need to help the plantations by way of elevated procurement of Kerala origin teas to help the sector which pays the optimum wages to staff, he said.

Ajith pointed out that the auction costs have declined about the previous two months. The normal price realised at Kochi July two sale was ₹131/kg (sale 26) for dust grades and ₹156 for leaf kinds. The costs crash has resulted in critical economical crisis to the tea plantations. Growers apprehend that there is a concerted effort by tea advertising and marketing organizations to suppress the costs in the domestic industry, he said.

APK is also nervous about the exponential maximize in tea imports that witnessed a 139 for every cent rise vis-a-vis prior yr. The planters’ overall body also demanded that the Centre need to acquire necessary methods to manage imports.

In the meantime, the normal price realisation in sale 27 dropped ₹6 for every kg to ₹118 with a subdued need from upcountry consumers and unfastened tea traders. The amount offered in CTC dust was ten,fifty two,800 kg and 34 for every cent was unsold. The trade witnessed weighty withdrawals owing to lower bid or absence of bid.

The industry for leaf gross sales was also reduce by ₹5 to ₹10, registering a drop in normal price realisation at ₹158 against ₹166 in the prior week.