Coonor: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Monday called for greater research, modernisation, branding and value addition to make Indian tea more competitive in global markets.
Inaugurating the centenary conference of the UPASI Tea Research Foundation in Coonoor, he congratulated the organisation on completing 100 years of contribution to tea research and the plantation sector.
Radhakrishnan stressed the need to improve productivity, quality and cost-effectiveness through sustained research and modernise tea factories to meet international standards.
He also urged tea producers and exporters to move beyond bulk tea and develop strong Indian brands to increase the global visibility and value of Indian tea.
The Vice-President called on UPASI to use its centenary year to expand its research network and equip research centres with modern facilities to address emerging challenges in the tea industry.
