The Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB) prepares to launch the country's third tea-auction centre in Panchagarh soon with an eye to facilitating trade of home-grown tea, officials say.
Once it comes on line, the centre will help local growers get better price, and save time and cost.
Even traders will acquire tea leaf without losing quality.
"We've conducted six meetings and multiple ground surveys ahead of materialising the plan for the tea auction centre in Panchagarh," BTB chairman Maj Gen Md Ashraful Islam tells the FE.
To this end, final decision will be made through the proper channel soon, he says, adding that tea board has also got directives from the cabinet.
According to tea-sector stakeholders, tea plantation on plains is getting popularity in the country's northern districts, including Panchagarh.
"Tea is being grown on the plains of Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Lalmonirhat, whereas it was limited to hilly areas like Chattogram, Moulvibazar and Sylhet for so long," says commerce minister Tipu Munshi.
He was addressing a press conference on Thursday ahead of Second National Tea Day today (Saturday).
Tea plantation in the north helps make the best use of the land which is unsuitable for growing other crops, according to Mr Tipu.
"A record 14.55-million kgs of tea were produced in the northern region in 2021, when a total of 96.51-million kgs were produced in the entire country," he discloses.
BTB data shows all tea estates in the country grew 7.05-million kilo tea in the first four months of 2021, which is around 19 per cent higher than last year's.
The country has set a target for producing a record 100-million kg tea this calendar year.
Currently, there are 167 tea estates spreading on 279,506.88 acres of land in seven districts-Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sylhet, Chattogram, Rangamati, Panchagarh and Thakurgaon, according to the data.
Contacted, BTB senior scientific officer Dr Mohammad Shameem Al Mamun says tea cultivation has expanded significantly in the north, so farmers will benefit from an auction house there.
"When the auction facility comes into operation, it will help both growers and traders as it will significantly lower travel time and cost," he adds.
At present, growers need to travel to Chattogram to take part in auction, according to Mr Mamun.
Currently, tea auction takes place in Chattogram and Srimongal.
Highlighting the prospect of tea cultivation in the north, he says the region is expected to achieve its production target of 18-million kgs this year.
Mr Mamun led a project to expand the smallholding tea cultivation in northern Bangladesh.
Despite growth in local tea production, the country needs to import a good amount of tea every year as the demand for the refreshing beverage is growing.
The most popular local tea brands include Ispahani Mirzapore Tea, Finlay, Seylon and National.
According to the Bangladesh Tea Association, the tea sector has so far created employment opportunities for more than 1.0-million people.
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