Climate Change and Evolving Consumer Trends Transforming Tea Industry: IITC

Speedy Summary:

• Climate change is negatively impacting tea production in India,leading to decreased yields,pest issues,and crop pattern disruptions.
• K. Mathew Abraham, President of United Planters’ Association of Southern India (UPASI), emphasized adapting strategies to improve consumption and suggested government campaigns akin to Operation Flood or Silver for tea promotion.
• Export challenges include declining trade with traditional markets like Russia and Iran; new markets such as Africa and Ghana need exploration.
• Experts at the 8th India International Tea Convention stress innovation, branding, premiumisation of tea products, appealing marketing aimed at youth demographics, and sustainability measures.
• L. Satya Srinivas (Special Secretary) urged research-focused solutions amid global trade disruptions; Kesang Y. Sherpa emphasized diversifying export markets and expanding the organic tea sector with recent exports from Assam to Taiwan noted as progress.
• Indian domestic tea consumption has increased steadily over a decade but per capita rates remain lower than many other countries.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The discussions during the 8th India International Tea Convention underscore pressing challenges faced by India’s iconic tea industry due to climate change impacts paired with shrinking traditional export avenues heightened by evolving consumer preferences globally. Recommendations such as government-led promotional campaigns align strategically with prior national successes like Operation Flood while emphasizing adaptability through branding approaches catered toward emerging youth audiences are practical steps forward for reinvigorating domestic enthusiasm for Indian teas.

India’s steady rise in export volumes alongside value growth over the past decade sets an optimistic backdrop despite lower-than-average per capita consumption figures regionally comparative insights imply untapped demand sides needing audience-centric policy roadmap adjustments stakeholders internalizing core sustainable standpoints better positioning resilience likewise ensuring consistent future-ready acknowledgment reach upon utmost survival possibilities…

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