CTC Tea - Information.

     CTC tea is a processed tea product created by a method of crushing, tearing, and then curling the tea leaves (FAO, 2011). In the last decade, the Nepali tea Industry has seen large expansion, becoming a source of employment for approximately 67,000 Nepalese (SAWTEE, 2006). Originally, CTC tea was mainly imported into Nepal due to a lack of infrastructure and cheaper international prices (SAWTEE, 2006). However, due to policy changes and investments into this tea industry, Nepal has substituted importing CTC goods for its own domestic production (SAWTEE, 2006). This allows Nepal to look outwards for trade opportunities involving CTC tea. While Nepal’s tea export accounts for only 0.2% of the world’s total tea exports, the potential for trade is promising (SAWTEE, 2006)

History of CTC Tea Industry - Nepal.

            When the British colonized India and created the East India Company, numerous tea plantations were promoted around the hill station of Darjeeling (SAWTEE, 2006). Over the years, many tea hybrids crossed the border into Nepal and were introduced into several districts; the first tea estates being established in 1863 in Illam and Jhapa (SAWTEE, 2006). Jhapa is now the main site of CTC tea processing and is located within 100 km of the world-renowned Darjeeling tea fields (SAWTEE, 2006). Only recently, however, has the tea industry in Nepal seen a substantial increase in growth. 

Government Involvement. 

     The tea market was once monopolized by the Nepali government (FAO, 2011). It has since been privatized and with the implementation of the National Tea Policy in 2000 has seen increased investments and substantial growth (SAWTEE, 2006). The CTC tea industry is responsible for producing around 13,000 tons of processed tea on 8,951 hectares (SAWTEE, 2006). Small farmers produce 28.6% (NTCBD, 2005). The rest is grown on larger tea estates with many on-site workers who reside there permanently (NTCBD, 2005). 

References.

Bridgehead - about us. (2014). Retrieved 11/12, 2014, from www.bridgehead.ca

Nepal-canada relations. (2014). Retrieved 11/12, 2014, from http://www.nepalembassy.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=14&layout=blog&Itemid=34

Palikhe, H. (2012). Green economy and trade opportunities. Kathmandu: International Trade Centre.

Roberge, L. (2014). Tea association of canada. Retrieved 11/12, 2014, from http://www.actionplan.gc.ca.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/en/page/rcc-ccr/tea-association-canada

Tea industry in nepal and its impact on poverty (2006). . Kathmandu: South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment.

Thapa, A. (March 2005). Concept paper on study of Nepalese tea industry. Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal Tree Crop Global Development Alliance.

Thapa, Y. B. (2011). Commodity case study – tea. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.

Vanderveldt, I. (2014). Resolutions: Female entrepreneurs are key to sustainable global developement. Retrieved 11/12, 2014, from http://www.unfoundation.org/blog/female-entrepreneurs.html