Cotton-Varietal Breakthrough

both countries exported equal quantities, viz, 208 mn kg. In 1968, India's share of the world market was 35 per cent against 45 per cent in 1951; in 1970 the world market shares of India and Ceylon were almost equal. Now, with Ceylon launching its five-year plan for .stepping up production (about 95 per cent of CeyIon's tea is exported) and with the entry of several East African countries as suppliers in the international tea market, the threat to Indian tea exports is actually increasing, The fall in exports is usually associated with larger domestic consumption. In the absence of any substantial increase in production, the surplus available for exports is low and exports suffer especially in the context of lower rates for tea in international markets. Domestic consumption of tea increased by an average of 7.3 mn kg per annum between 1963-64 and 1968-69. On this basis, internal consumption is expected to rise to about 230 mn kg by 1973-