The Union Government has urged the tea companies to increase funding in research - particularly to enhance productivity, explore scope of mechanisation, quality and climate risk mitigation – for long-term sustainability.
Addressing the annual general meeting of the Indian Tea Association (ITA), on Friday, Rajani Ranjan Rashmi, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Commerce, said tea research in India was almost entirely dependent on government funding.
“Nowhere in the world, industry depends on government for research,” he pointed out.
Going forward, he said the government should participate in research activities spearheaded by the tea industry.