Tamil Nadu - Udhagamandalam   

Kenyan tea delegation impressed with Indian Tea Board

Friendly visit: The head of Kenyan Tea Delegation, Grenville Melli (third right) handing over a memento to the Executive Director of Tea Board R.D.Nazeem in Coonoor on Friday.

Udhagamandalam: Exchange of valuable information relating to tea cultivation, manufacture and marketing marked the two-day visit of a delegation from Kenya to Coonoor which concluded on Friday.

The delegation was headed by the Assistant Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Kenya, Grenville Melli.

Interacting with R.D. Nazeem, Executive Director of Tea Board, Mr. Melli said that they were very much impressed with the manner in which the Tea Board functions in India.

Pointing out that the powers vested with the Kenyan Tea Board are nothing compared to its Indian counterpart, he said that even in exercising those powers they faced problems.

The Indian Tea Board’s main plus point is its resources. Adverting to the activities of the Tea Research Foundation of the United Planters Association of Southern India, he said, “Kenya can learn a lot from it”.

The Service Manager, Tea Board, Kenya, Samuel Ogala pointed out that Kenya is the largest exporter of tea.

Out of a total production of 340 million kilograms it exported 300 million kilograms.

Stating that the e-auction system existed only in South India, he observed that for increased transparency and fair price discovery, it is ideal.

Expressing the hope that the system will be adopted in Kenya, he said that he had conducted fruitful discussions in this regard with the head, Tea Operations, NSE-IT Rajaraman and members of the Coonoor Tea Trade Association.

Referring to his visit to the Glendale Tea Factory near Coonoor, Mr. Ogala said that he was impressed with the efforts to harness Solar energy.

The head (finance), Kenyan Tea Board, Phrasiah Mwangi said that the subsidy schemes being implemented by the Tea Board and the built in mechanism to keep track of expenditure are worthy of replication.

The settlement banking system in the Coonoor auctions was noteworthy.

She hoped that the benefits of the United Nations Development Programme energy conservation project which is now being implemented here would be extended to Kenya.

Pointing out that the tea industry in Kenya is extremely quality conscious, the members said that in plucking, processing or packaging all are disciplined.

The two leaves and a bud norm is very strictly adhered to.

To mark their visit Mr. Melli handed over a memento to Mr. Nazeem.

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