Kerala planters worried over drop in Kochi tea sale price

Kerala planters are trying to get the assist of the State authorities to tide in excess of the crisis arising out of a decrease in tea selling prices at the Kochi auctions.

The Affiliation of Planters of Kerala has urged the Pinarayi Vijayan authorities to concern essential guidelines to Kerala co-operative Supplyco to increase its procurement from the Kochi tea auctions. Buys designed by the State agency, 1 of the major potential buyers at the auctions, declined in the last two months. If the authorities entity procures additional portions from the auctions, it will create a superior demand from customers and quickly, selling prices will boost, explained Ajith BK, secretary, APK.

Federal government assist

The growers sense that the authorities should assist the plantations by way of greater procurement of Kerala origin teas to assist the sector which pays the greatest wages to workers, he explained.

Ajith pointed out that the auction selling prices have declined in excess of the last two months. The normal price realised at Kochi July 2 sale was ₹131/kg (sale 26) for dust grades and ₹156 for leaf varieties. The selling prices crash has resulted in significant fiscal crisis to the tea plantations. Growers apprehend that there is a concerted effort by tea marketing and advertising businesses to suppress the selling prices in the domestic market, he explained.

APK is also apprehensive in excess of the exponential boost in tea imports that witnessed a 139 for each cent rise vis-a-vis past 12 months. The planters’ entire body also demanded that the Centre should acquire essential techniques to manage imports.

Meanwhile, the normal price realisation in sale 27 dropped ₹6 for each kg to ₹118 with a subdued demand from customers from upcountry potential buyers and loose tea traders. The quantity provided in CTC dust was ten,52,800 kg and 34 for each cent was unsold. The trade witnessed weighty withdrawals thanks to minimal bid or lack of bid.

The market for leaf gross sales was also lessen by ₹5 to ₹10, registering a fall in normal price realisation at ₹158 from ₹166 in the past 7 days.