The Tea Buyers Association has said that the prolonged strike at the Kochi port has already disrupted the Kochi tea auctions, thereby, the buyers operating at this premier auction centre in the south being unable to meet their commitments to the overseas parties as well as the requirements of the domestic market.

Supply chain disturbance

Mr Bency Jose, President of the Association, said that in pre and post auction stages, around three million kg of tea worth Rs 30 crore are held up. Severe financial strain is also there due to lack of funds since the supply chain could not be maintained.

He pointed out that occasional interruptions in the port operations have been a matter of serious concern to all sections of the tea industry and trade, including labour concentrated on Willington Island for decades.

Diversion of tea

Further, the tea trade will lose its confidence and the neighbouring tea auction centres will be the ultimate beneficiaries. . The Governments at the Centre, State and the Cochin Port Trust administration should make joint efforts to sort out the issues involved and restore normalcy in the port operations sooner.

The ongoing strike, paralysing the entire cargo movement, has placed the trade in an extremely difficult situation with its adverse impact on agriculture, industry, trade and service sectors, he added.

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