Tripura, the country?s fifth largest tea producing state is seeking more private investment in its tea plantations to increase the area under tea.

The state has 17,393 hectare identified for tea cultivation, while only 37% is actually under cultivation.

?We have appealed to the planters for cultivation in rest of the areas identified for cultivation,? said Jitendra Chaudhury, minister of commerce and industry.

Tripura received investments worth Rs 30 lakh last year in the tea sector.

?We have urged industrialists to increase plantation in the state,? Chaudhury added.

Though Tripura is keen to boost its tea plantation industry, but rickety infrastructure remains a big bottleneck for growth. To address that the state had made a provision of Rs 2,000 crore in its budget this fiscal to upgrade its infrastructure. ?Definitely there are constraints like infrastructure facilities, but we will take care of that,? he said.

Tripura, produces 7.7 million kg of tea, from its 58 tea estates covering 6,565 hectare while 14 tea estates over 1,383 hectare are run by the workers? co-operative. Average yield of tea in the state is around 1,100 kg per hectare, significantly lower than the national average of 1,900 kg per hectare.

While 30 tea estates are below the size of 100 hectare, 19 are between 100-200 hectare, 7 are between 200-300 hectare and only 2 estates are over 300 hectare.

Basudeb Banerjee, chairman of the Tea Board of India said, ?The 2,500 feet restriction for heavy pruning in the hillocks has been withdrawn to encourage more plantations in the state.?

So far, Tea Board has received merely 15 applications under the Rs 4,700 crore special purpose tea fund (SPTF) scheme for re-plantation and rejuvenation of the ageing tea bushes in the country. ?We hope to receive more applications after the restriction for heavy pruning is withdrawn,? Banerjee said.

Price realisation for Tripura tea has also been less as it has traded at Rs 55 per kg at the Guwahati auction centre against a national average of Rs 75 per kg. ?We hope prices will appreciate for Tripura tea after e-auction is operational.?