GUWAHATI:
Keeping in view the need of research support and continuous innovations to bring about transformational change in the Indian tea industry, Tea Research Association (TRA) is integrating its Good Agricultural Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices in the form of TRA-TOCKLAI GAP-GMP Standard, aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
TRA-TOCKLAI GAP-GMP Standard, being supported by the Tea Board of India unlike other standards, was launched at the 58th annual general meeting of the Tea Research Association in Kolkata on Wednesday by Tea Board of India chairman Saurav Pahari among all industry stakeholders.
Former Union minister and Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) president Paban Singh Ghatowar were also present at the function.
The new standard for the Indian tea industry which is based on the practical recommendations of the 112-year-old research and development body will go a long way in ensuring the sustainability of the Indian tea industry.
Tocklai Tea Research Institute of Tea Research Association (TRA) has been the pioneer research and development (R&D) organization globally in the field of tea research and engineering since 1911.
Through its wide range of research and development activities over 112 years, TRA Tocklai has made tea plantations economically viable in North India and has made significant contributions by developing more than 200 tea cultivars, suitable agro-techniques and a location-specific package of practices for nutrition, crop protection, tea processing, methodology of sustainable tea plantations and production.
TRA Tocklai invented the CTC tea and Rotorvane machine which revolutionised tea production and consumption in the world.
The standard supports strategies which will contribute to improving overall farm practices, management systems and sustainability performance. The idea of having a homegrown sustainability certification was mooted by TRA secretary Joydeep Phukan to the Council of Management of TRA on June 29 which was unanimously accepted.
TRA-TOCKLAI GAP-GMP Standard which will start from January 1 2023 recognizes the challenges faced by the tea industry due to climate change and prescribes climate-resilient practices to adapt and mitigate climate change impacts, improving the resilience of the industry.
The recommended practices on maintaining healthy soils, conserving water and energy resources, avoiding deforestation, encouraging afforestation programmes, planting climate-smart planting material, protecting natural ecosystems and biodiversity, reducing GHG emissions etc. would significantly contribute toward a climate-resilient tea industry.
TRA Tocklai believes that the adoption of the best practices, indicated in the Standard, would contribute toward a people and planet-positive tea industry by 2030 with continuous improvements.
TRA chairman Prabhat Bezboruah said that Tocklai should come out with climate-resilient tea clones after it has successfully sequenced the tea genome. This will go a long way in addressing the problems of drought and pest incidence. He informed the members of the trials on different kinds of fertilisers such as nano urea and polyhalite taken up by Tocklai in the last two years. Israel Chemicals Ltd from Tel Aviv presented their joint TRA ICL work on polyhalite for the tea plantations.
Tea Board chairman Saurav Pahari emphasised the need for the industry to pay more attention to research and development to address some major problems of the industry. He stated that TRA has successfully sustained the industry for the last 112 years despite its problems with funding. He stated that there is a proposal to enhance R&D funding for innovative projects to take the industry forward.
Speaking as the chief guest eminent scientist Prof Alok Dhawan spoke on the need for GAP GMP standards and the safety of tea.
Dhawan said that safety compliance and innovation is the key to the Indian tea industry. He offered the services of his institute to work jointly with TRA.
Nayantara Palchoudhuri of Washabarie Tea Co & Mohorgung Gulma Tea Co was elected as the chairperson of TRA and Atul Asthana, managing director and CEO of Goodricke Group as vice-chairman if TRA.