A new chapter has begun in the development of Tripura’s tea industry with the inauguration of the state’s first Tea Auction Centre, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said on Thursday. 

He said, the new facility is expected to open new employment opportunities and accelerate the socio-economic development of nearly 2,800 tea grower’s families associated with the tea industry in the state. 

The Chief Minister said this after inaugurating Agartala Tea Auction Centre at Nehru Complex in Gorkhabasti. 

He said that the state government had taken special initiatives in 2023 to take Tripura’s tea industry to the national and international levels. As a result of these efforts, the state’s first Tea Auction Centre has become operational. Following the inauguration, the Chief Minister visited various sections of the centre, including the tea-testing section and tea gallery. He also formally launched the tea auction programme.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasised the importance of dreaming big to serve and improve the welfare of people. He added that such dreams could be realised through sincere, transparent and dedicated efforts. The state government has been undertaking various development initiatives with this objective, creating new opportunities for educated unemployed youth as well as farmers to improve their socioeconomic conditions. 

The Chief Minister stated that Tripura’s soil and climatic conditions are highly suitable for tea cultivation. However, he said that adequate practical initiatives had not been taken in the past to develop the industry. With the establishment of the new auction centre, the growth of the state’s tea industry is expected to gain further momentum.

He informed that Tripura currently has 54 tea gardens producing approximately one crore kilograms of tea annually, while tea leaves are processed in 23 factories. Tripura currently ranks second among the northeastern states in tea production. The Chief Minister also stressed the need for innovative branding, promotion and marketing strategies to expand the reach of Tripura tea. He pointed out that tea produced in the state was previously auctioned in Kolkata and Guwahati, increasing the expenses of local tea producers. 

The establishment of the auction centre in Tripura will help address this long-standing problem and bring significant changes to the e-auction process. To encourage buyers from Kolkata and Guwahati to participate in auctions at the Agartala Tea Auction Centre, special transportation subsidies will be provided to participating buyers, helping reduce their expenses.

He further said that the centre would facilitate better coordination between small and large tea producers, creating new opportunities for the expansion of the industry. The state government aims to develop the Agartala Tea Auction Centre into the leading tea auction centre in Northeast India and increase demand for Tripura tea. The government is also pursuing a long-term objective of doubling the state’s tea exports to international markets.

The Chief Minister said that collective efforts were essential to building a new Tripura with improved socio-economic conditions. During the programme, he felicitated Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner Albasar Hasan and other auction participants. 

Industry and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma, who attended the programme as the guest of honour, said that the Department of Industries and Commerce had been undertaking various initiatives to promote industrial development in the state. She said the government aimed to encourage more educated young people to establish industries, with the tea sector being one of the important areas of focus.

She added that the Agartala Tea Auction Centre would play a significant role in strengthening the state’s own-source revenue in the future. 

Other speakers included Tripura Tea Development Corporation Chairman Samir Ranjan Ghosh. Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce Kiran Gitte delivered the welcome address. Among those present as special guests were Arunita Paukhan Yadav, Regional Executive Director of the Tea Board of India for the Northeast region, and Dr. Deepak Kumar, Director of the Department of Industries and Commerce. Tripura Tea Development Corporation Managing Director Rajesh Kumar Das delivered the vote of thanks.