Tea Board to re-brew Coimbatore auctions following teething problems with new service provider

The Tea Board has decided to re-conduct Sale 10 of the auctions on March 14 on the old platform due to opposition from stakeholders over teething problems faced by the new service provider

The Board informed stakeholders that the auctions will be held on the old NSEIT platform instead the new platform of e-Procurement Technologies which was substituted to conduct e-auction at different centres across the country.

Tea Buyers Association in Kochi said the Coimbatore auction had encountered some issues in Sale 10 which was held on March 5. Some of the stakeholders reported that the deal book showed certain teas were knocked down without bidding on these lots. On many lots, it was noticed that the same lots were knocked down to two buyers. There were also reports of considerable lag and many buyers could not register their bids and buy these teas. 

Seeking mock sessions

The Association requested to ensure that the new system should be introduced in Kochi auctions after satisfying it as fool proof. There is no reason to operate a system which is inferior to the present system. They also urged to conduct mock sessions with buyers and brokers to gain the trust of the stakeholders before the new system is launched. 

Apu Kurien, President of Tea Trade Association of Cochin, urged the Tea Board that the working of the new system should be deferred unless the impediments ascertained in the working of the new system are addressed. The introduction of the new technology at Coimbatore auctions has not achieved the desired results of price discovery and allowing trading simpler, transparent and user-friendly, he said.

 “We are unable to appreciate the motives which have prompted substitution of a matured scheme in this casual manner and in total disregard of its workability and utility. We are clear that the tea trade should not be a subject of amateur experimentation by the Board,” he said.

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