Bengdubi, Jan. 16: Tea planters today demanded incentives be given for growing orthodox tea, which they claimed was the “best bet” to boost exports and push the industry out of crisis.

The view was put forward at the 42nd annual general meeting of the Terai Branch Indian Tea Association where planters discussed ways of bailing out the cash-strapped brew belt.

Orthodox tea, they suggested, could push up export figures and bring in the necessary revenue for the ailing industry as opposed to the CTC variety.

“Despite an increase in the total tea production, the price of tea has fallen and so has the export figure (170 million kg). In fact, exports touched a five-year low last year,” said M. Bhattacharya, the TBITA chairman.

“Orthodox tea forms 60 per cent of the global trade. India today exports 100 million kg of this variety compared to 200 million kg in the early Eighties,” Bhattacharya said.

“High cost of production and uncertainties involved in the case of orthodox tea make planters choose CTC tea. In the last decade, there has been a shift in production from orthodox to the CTC variety. This variety of tea has flooded the market and now there is excess supply,” explained D. Chakraborty, the secretary general of the Indian Tea Association.

Orthodox tea is mainly grown in Darjeeling while the gardens in the Dooars and Terai regions mainly grow CTC and green tea.

“In order to find new markets overseas and get back lost markets like Russia, orthodox tea is our best bet. The government must take an interest in boosting export-oriented production of orthodox tea. In the present crisis, the government should offer incentives to grow orthodox tea,” Chakraborty said.

Planters, he said, hoped 2004 would bring better news for the tea industry given the thaw in relations between India and Pakistan.

“The goodwill gestures are a good sign for the industry since Pakistan is a huge consumer of CTC tea. If trade with our neighbour booms, we will be able to get better prices for CTC tea,” Chakraborty said.