Govt targets to increase tea production, exports
“Our tea production is increasing with the rising demand. There is a huge demand for Bangladeshi tea abroad. Tea could not be exported much after meeting the local demand. Efforts are on to increase tea production and export,”
A roadmap is being implemented to increase the capacity of the tea industry to produce 140 million kg tea by 2025, said Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Sunday.
"Our tea production is increasing with the rising demand. There is a huge demand for Bangladeshi tea abroad. Tea could not be exported much after meeting the local demand. Efforts are on to increase tea production and export," said the minister while addressing a seminar on Bangladesh Tea Industry: Problems and Prospectson the occasion of 1st National Tea Day.
Entrepreneurs should come forward to increase tea production in the country, Tipu Munshi said, adding that the government would provide all necessary support.
The government has continued to work for the development of the tea industry and is sincere about ensuring proper marketing and setting up of new tea gardens, innovation of new varieties and fair price, he said at the discussion organised by Bangladesh Tea Board in the capital.
The commerce minister said the domestic demand for tea would likely to grow to 129 million kg by 2025. If the production increases to 140 million kg, exports of additional 11 million kg will be possible. "Tea is expected to be one of the exportableitems of Bangladesh," Tipu Munshi said.
"We have huge potential for tea production. In 2019, 96.07 million kg was produced. Bangladesh exported a total of 2.17 million kg to 22 countries in 2020, which is about 260% more than the export in 2019."
There is a promising trend in tea production in the northern part of the country. It is possible to implement the roadmap through concerted efforts, the minister added.
