DTA for a centre of excellence in Darjeeling

Kolkata, Jun 15 : The Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA) has sought the Tea Board's intervention to convert the Darjeeling Tea Research and Development Centre into a Centre of Excellence.

According to DTA sources, the conversion of the research centre run by the Commerce Ministry into a centre of excellence would help development of the 150-year-old tea industry in Darjeeling.

The sources said the proposed centre would act as a nodal agency to address all agri-export zone matters in Darjeeling which has been recently declared as a AEZ by the state government.

DTA has also sought the assistance of IIT Kharagpur in regard to retension of flavour for longer period and ways to increase whole leaf in the produce.

The IIT Kharagpur would soon begin a feasibility study on the project, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the IIT Kharagpur has been asked by the Tea Board to suggest ways to improve tea processing and upgrade quality of tea to increase productivity.

UNI