India’s Vice-President has called for sweeping changes to strengthen the tea sector, emphasising the need for research, modern factories and strong Indian brands in global markets. Speaking at the Centenary Conference of the UPASI Tea Research Foundation in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan outlined steps to help Indian tea compete more effectively internationally.
What was announced
The Vice-President inaugurated the hundred-year milestone event of the UPASI (United Planters’ Association of Southern India) Tea Research Foundation and released a book titled “Tea Research in South India – A Compendium” documenting tea research contributions in the region.
He called for several concrete actions across the tea industry:
- Expanding research focused on reducing costs, improving quality and boosting productivity
- Training planters to maintain standards and respond to shifting buyer preferences in competitive global markets
- Modernising tea factories and upgrading production facilities to match international benchmarks
- Recruiting qualified professionals dedicated to tea research
- Moving beyond bulk tea exports toward developing recognisable Indian tea brands for overseas consumers
- Identifying new tea products and market opportunities, particularly using India’s large domestic consumption base
- Strengthening worker welfare alongside industry growth
The Vice-President urged the tea industry, alongside Central and State Governments, to conduct a thorough assessment of sector needs and create specific proposals for development. He also asked UPASI to expand its research network to additional locations and equip research facilities with modern technology.
What this means for you
If you work in or own a tea plantation or processing unit, this signals government backing for investment in upgrading your operations and accessing research support. For consumers interested in Indian tea brands, the push towards building strong branded products suggests more high-quality, recognisable Indian tea options may become available in global markets. Plantation workers may see increased focus on their working conditions and benefits as the sector grows. The emphasis on research and innovation also suggests potential job creation for agricultural scientists and professionals in the tea industry.