India is the world's second largest tea producer and exporter. However, due to the outbreak of the epidemic, the country's tea sector has been going through hard times since last year. Tea production has declined at an alarming rate due to the Corona epidemic. On the other hand, the tea market is in crisis. As a result, India is increasing imports. Tea imports rose 139 percent in the first quarter of this year. However, such an upward flow in imports indicates a catastrophe for the country's tea sector, industry insiders said.

According to the United Planters Association of South India (UPASI), the top producer of tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom and black pepper in the southern states, India imported 59 lakhs 60 thousands kg of tea in the first quarter of this year. Imports increased by 139 percent compared to the same period last year.

UPASI President Prashant Vansali said India imported a total of 23.4 million kg of tea last year. In the previous year, 1 crore 58 lakh 50 thousand kg was imported. As a result, imports increased by 47.63 percent last year. Most tea is imported from Kenya, Nepal and Vietnam.

Sunbd/NJ