Up output to throttle back tea import

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed Thursday underlined the need for raising tea production to scale back import of brew.
"Lands of many parts of the country are suitable for high quality tea production. There are huge potential for tea production in those lands and we have to utilise the opportunity," he said.
The ministry of commerce and Bangladesh Tea Board organised the workshop on "Development Roadmap: Bangladesh's Tea Industry" at the conference room of Export Promotion Bureau in the city.      
Commerce secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon presided over the programme, which was also addressed, among others, by chairman of Bangladesh Tea Board Major General Md Enayet Ullah, MoC additional secretaries ATM Mourtuza Reza Chowdhury and Shawkat Ali Waresi.
The minister said in 1970 the country has produced 31.38 million kilograms (kgs) of tea on 42,637 hectares of land. In 2013, the production shot up to 66.26 million kgs on 58,719 hectares of land.
He said in 2013, some 0.54 million kgs of tea worth Tk 133.04 million were exported. "Tea export can be raised further through raising its production."
Mr Ahmed said the annual tea consumption in the country has been rising by 3.23 per cent while the production is increasing by 2.0 per cent.
He said the government has been providing necessary support to tea producers to raise production of the commodity. Steps have been taken to further develop the tea industry and a strategic work plan vision-2025 is being implemented.
The country will be able to export a large volume of high quality tea after implementation of the work plan, he noted.
    islam@outlook.com