Since inception in May 2020, the Jorhat Tea Auction Centre in Assam managed by mjunction services limited, India’s largest B2B e-commerce company, has brought Assam tea closer to medium and small buyers across the country.
Launched amid the pandemic in collaboration with Tea Board of India, this e-marketplace braved the complexities and business challenges to bring about a sea change in the trade, especially for small buyers.
Convenience and ease of operations have drawn a large number of medium and small buyers to this platform. Sales have improved with each weekly sale, and in Q3 of FY22, the platform sold more than 1.2 lakh kg of tea to this segment of buyers.
For Rahul (name changed on request), a small buyer from Maharashtra, the platform came as a blessing as his business suffered during lockdown. He and his wife then set up a small tea buying firm and registered with mjunction’s e-marketplace after obtaining alicence from Tea Board. He started receiving free samples well ahead of the weekly auction sale. Initially he started slow, but now he is a regular buyer from the platform. Last year he purchased teas worth Rs 1 crore and this year he plans to double his purchase. He supplies these teas to wholesalers and retailers in Maharashtra. As the cycle time is less, upcountry buyers also get fresh Assam teas directly from the garden.
Rahul is not alone and there are more than 100 buyers across the country who have benefited from the platform. Any buyer with a valid Tea Board licence can log in to www.emarketplace.teaboard.gov.into register. After registration, mjunction reaches out to these buyers promptly and arranges for demonstrations and provides any other support that may be needed.
mjunction MD Mr Vinaya Varma said: “This year, we plan to offer bigger quantities and introduce key value additions. These could include technical knowhow on blending for tea start-ups and easy finance and logistics for buyers.”
With digital platforms fast overtaking traditional buying and selling, even more so because of the pandemic, both sellers and buyers are using the mjunction e-marketplace that offers fresh tea, quick turnaround, transparent finance and logistics support. All major transporters, tea buyers and tea factories of Upper Assam are enlisted on the platform, Mr Varma added.
