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Bangladesh produced 93.8 million kg of tea in one year. However, Tea production in the country has reduced by 2.67 million kg.
Despite the target of producing 100 million kg of tea in 2022, the country’s tea gardens have failed to meet the target due to adverse weather conditions and labour strikes.
According to Bangladesh Tea Board sources, the country’s tea production in 168 gardens in 2021 was 96.5 million kg, 18.7 million kg more than the annual target.
Moreover, the country produced 10.4 million kg more tea than the target in 2020.
But due to the hostile climate, domestic tea estate owners were unable to meet the target in 2022 after a long time.
This information was derived from the Tea Board’s latest production report until December.
Meanwhile, tea production in the country has been consistently growing over the last decade. As tea production exceeds the target year after year, it was lifted by 22.2 million kg in the previous year.
Earlier, the tea board established an annual growth target of 2-2.5% for tea production.
Industry authorities believe that inadequate rainfall throughout the season, as well as weeks of labour strikes during the peak season, have prevented the record tea production target from being fulfilled.
According to tea stakeholders, the country’s tea production growth has been hampered this season mostly due to the tea labourers’ strike over wage issues.
A 20-day strike in the middle of the year hampered tea production in the country. As a result, tea production dropped in July and August.
July production is lower than the previous year at 11.2 million kg while August production is lower than in past years at 10.7 million kg.
Although a record 14.7 million kg of tea was produced in September, the labour strike had the largest impact in October.
In October, tea production was only 3.2 million kg, which was lower than in the same month the previous year.
The country’s 168 tea estates managed to produce 93.8 million kg of tea at the end of November and December.
According to tea industry sources, tea production is at its peak in the country from June to October. The peak season for tea consumption begins in October. Tea consumption in the country has exceeded 95 million kg in recent years.
As a result of production being less than consumer demands, there is a prospect of rising tea imports, they said.
When asked about the cause for the decrease in tea production, Magnolia Group Senior Manager (DGM) SM Iqbal said that adequate rainfall is required throughout the tea production season.
However, this year’s output is somewhat lower due to below-average rainfall. Apart from continued production growth, he believes that according to the tea board’s initiative, there is a chance of boosting production relative to demand in the future.
According to tea board authorities, the country’s tea consumption is growing year after year. Tea consumption is expanding for a variety of causes including domestic population increase and economic development.
The winter season, as well as the election atmosphere, influence tea consumption. If tea supply does not keep pace with demand, there will be no choice but to depend on imports.
In this regard, they believe that all tea estates must be connected to a technical irrigation system in order to boost tea output. A cooperative attitude from the labourers is also needed.
(DT)
