The Dark Tunnel of the Tea Industry

The waning trend of the Indonesian tea industry is inseparable from the declining national tea production. National tea production has decreased and stagnated at around 150,000 tons since 2007.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A tea picker plucks tea leaves on 27 June 2019 at the Pasir Canar plantation in Jayagiri, Sukanagara, Cianjur regency, West Java.

The Indonesian tea industry is in a dark tunnel. Synergy and strategic policies for upstream and downstream improvements to resolve all prevalent issues are needed. Unless serious efforts are undertaken, the Indonesian tea industry is likely to become mere history.

It was indicated by Rohayanti, a tea expert from the estate research company PT Riset Perkebunan Nusantara (RPN) early this year. The waning trend of the Indonesian tea industry is inseparable from the declining national tea production. After reaching its peak in 2003 with a record of 169,821 tons, national tea production has decreased and stagnated at around 150,000 tons since 2007.