New Delhi, Nov 28 (UNI) Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday stressed the importance of developing a wider catalogue of internationally marketable and competitive varieties of tea and called for adoption of technology to strengthen quality, traceability and farmer welfare in tea Industry.
Addressing the Sankalp Foundation’s National Conference on Safe Tea Production here the Minister also called for sustainable farming, eco-friendly packaging and greater value addition in India’s Tea sector.
He underlined that India must move beyond its traditional strengths and focus on creating new signature blends that resonate with changing consumer tastes, emerging wellness trends, and premium lifestyle markets worldwide.
Sustainable practices, responsible labour standards, and continuous innovation are essential to maintaining high-quality tea and low MRL levels, he said.
He urged researchers and scientists to leverage India’s diverse agro-climatic strengths to develop innovative varieties and high-value products that can unlock new export opportunities. Such innovation-driven value addition, he said, would not only enhance India’s global footprint but also enable farmers—particularly small growers—to secure better returns.
The Minister stressed that sustained research, experimentation, and product development will be key to ensuring that Indian tea remains competitive, distinctive, and future-ready in an increasingly dynamic global tea industry.
Noting that India is among the world’s largest tea producers and exporters, with nearly 255 million tonnes exported annually, he stressed the importance of safeguarding this key industry which plays an integral role in India’s hospitality and trade culture.
He emphasised that while the Government remains committed to improving the lives of tea growers, inputs, suggestions, and guidance from stakeholders, researchers, and industry players are invaluable in shaping effective policies.
He highlighted the Government’s Rs 1,000-crore package aimed at supporting tea growers and workers, along with initiatives enabling small growers to realise better prices for their produce.
The Minister highlighted the need for complete traceability across the tea supply chain and stressed that the integrity of Indian tea must be protected at every stage—from plucking and processing to packaging and export.
He urged researchers, industry stakeholders, and young entrepreneurs to explore emerging technologies such as blockchain to enable end-to-end transparency. Such systems, he said, can record every step of the production cycle, helping identify the exact source, grade, and quality of each batch of tea, prevent mixing with lower-quality or imported varieties, and ensure that only authentic Indian blends reach consumers.
Strengthened traceability, he added, would safeguard India’s reputation as a global tea leader, build greater trust among international buyers, and secure better value for farmers and small growers.
Calling for wider adoption of innovative and sustainable farming practices, he noted that methods such as drip irrigation can significantly improve water efficiency and overall productivity for growers. He emphasised that the future of the tea sector depends on embracing environmentally responsible approaches at every stage of cultivation and processing.
The Minister also urged stakeholders to explore biodegradable and eco-friendly packaging options, stating that such measures would help the industry meet global sustainability expectations.
He reiterated the need to increase the share of value-added, branded, and packaged teas in both domestic and international markets, underlining that India must move beyond commodity exports to strengthen its global presence.
He called on stakeholders to work collectively towards improving opportunities for children in tea-growing regions, emphasising that long-term sectoral progress must also include social development. Shri Goyal underscored the importance of skilling initiatives, mechanisation, and modern tools in
The Minister suggested incorporating innovative storytelling in tea marketing by highlighting the origin, process, and uniqueness of each cup and urged the industry to identify state-of-the-art testing equipment to ensure the highest quality standards.
He emphasised that government and industry must work as a team to ensure that every cup of Indian tea represents quality, heritage, and trust.
