Bangladesh Tea Research Institute

What Bangladesh Tea Research Institute does

Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI), established on 28 February 1957 and headquartered in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, is the only dedicated national tea research institute in Bangladesh. It operates as a constituent organization of the Bangladesh Tea Board under the Ministry of Commerce, and is one of 12 institutions in the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). Through 8 research divisions covering soil science, plant science, agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, biochemistry, technology, and statistics, BTRI develops high-yielding tea planting materials, sustainable cultivation and pest-management practices, and tea processing protocols. Its outputs include 23 proprietary tea clones (including the drought-hardy BT19 and cup-quality BT20 released in 2017, plus BT21) and 5 seed-based tea varieties, the annual Tea Journal of Bangladesh, standardized circulars such as the organoleptic black-tea tasting technique and a green-tea production protocol, and the pilot-scale mini tea factory for black and green tea processing.

BTRI's service portfolio extends beyond research to laboratory testing (soil, fertilizer, water, green leaf, made tea chemical analysis, and residue testing), on-site extension visits to tea estates, structured training programs (including an annual tea tasting and quality control course for Bangladesh Army officers since 2010, and similar courses for the Navy and National Tea Company managers), and digital outreach via four mobile applications (Duti Pata Ekti Kumri, Cha Seva, Somoyer Cha Shilpo, Tea Soft) and the Camellia Open Sky School hands-on program. The institute operates a HQ plus five sub-centers (Fatikchhari, Panchagarh Sadar, Kuli, Suwalk, Bhashkhali) covering all major Bangladeshi tea-growing regions, including the emerging northern plain-land tea belt. The current Director (In-charge) is Dr. Md. Ismail Hossain, appointed 1 June 2022.

BTRI is a government autonomous body fully funded by the Government of Bangladesh; it does not charge for any of its research, testing, training, or extension services. There are no private shareholders, no equity funding rounds, and no commercial revenue streams. All outputs are delivered free of charge to tea estates, smallholders, tea buyers, and defense and government institutions as a public good supporting Bangladesh's tea industry.

Name

Bangladesh Tea Research Institute

Legal name

Bangladesh Tea Research Institute

Website

https://btri.gov.bd

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) is the national government tea research institute, established 1957, that develops tea clones, cultivation and processing technologies, and provides free testing, training, and extension services to tea estates, smallholders, and government buyers across Bangladesh.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research Services (Tea)

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Tea Processing (Withering, Rolling, Fermentation, Drying) (AFAFADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Instant Tea, Tea Extracts & Concentrates Manufacturing (AFAFADAH)

Keywords

• Tea agricultural research
• Tea clone development
• Tea cultivation extension
• Tea quality testing
• Agronomic research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sreemangal

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: BTRI is a government-funded agricultural research institute under the Ministry of Commerce and operates as a constituent organization of the Bangladesh Tea Board. It receives government funding for its operations and provides research and extension services free of charge to the tea industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) is a government agricultural research institute that conducts scientific research on tea cultivation, develops high-yielding tea clones and seed varieties, and provides laboratory testing, training, and extension services to tea estates, smallholders, and government institutions across Bangladesh. It operates 8 research divisions and distributes improved planting materials, standardized protocols, and technology services free of charge to the tea industry.

Product overview

Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) is a government research institute under the Bangladesh Tea Board, operating 8 research divisions (Soil Science, Plant Science, Agronomy, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Biochemistry, Technology, and Statistics). The institute has developed 23 high-yielding tea clones and 5 seed varieties. Its product portfolio includes mobile applications (দুটি পাতা একটি কুঁড়ি, সমতলের চা শিল্প, চা সেবা), the Tea Soft software for anti-smuggling tracking, laboratory testing services, training programs, the Tea Journal of Bangladesh publication, and a network of 5 sub-centers across Bangladesh. The institute also provides consultation services for tea gardens and cultivators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• দুটি পাতা একটি কুঁড়ি (Dui Ti Pata Ekti Kundari): Mobile app providing tea information and technology services to tea farmers and stakeholders
• সমতলের চা শিল্প (Somotoler Cha Shilpo)
• চা সেবা (Cha Seba)
• টি সফট (Tea Soft)
• ক্যামেলিয়া খোলা আকাশ স্কুল (Camellia Open Sky School)

Products and services

• BTRI Tea Clones (23 varieties including BT19, BT20, BT21) Set of 23 high-yielding and quality tea clones developed by BTRI and distributed to tea estates and smallholders; includes BT19 (drought hardy with sweet flavor), BT20 (excellent cup quality), and BT21 (improved yield), all specifically adapted for Bangladeshi agro-climatic conditions.
• BTRI Seed Varieties (5 varieties) Five seed-based tea varieties developed by BTRI for improved tea cultivation, distributed to tea growers across Bangladesh as planting material.
• Laboratory Testing Services Laboratory testing services for soil, fertilizer, water, green leaf, and made tea covering quality analysis, chemical analysis, and residue level testing; available to tea factories, tea buyers, defense institutions, and growers.
• Tea Tasting and Quality Control Training Course (Army and Navy) Annual certificate training course on tea tasting and quality control conducted for Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Navy officers, led by Dr. Md. Ismail Hossain, building institutional capacity for tea quality procurement within defense services.
• Duti Pata Ekti Kumri Mobile Application Mobile application providing tea information and technology services to tea garden owners, managers, tea cultivators, smallholders, and the public, available on Google Play Store.
• Tea Soft Software Application Software application for tea industry management and anti-smuggling tracking system, developed and distributed by BTRI.
• Tea Research and Development Services Core scientific research services covering tea cultivation, plant breeding, soil science, plant pathology, entomology, biochemistry, processing technology, and statistics, delivered through 8 research divisions to tea industry stakeholders.
• Camellia Open Sky School Hands-on training service for small tea cultivators providing practical agricultural education and extension support, branded as Camellia Open Sky School.
• BTRI Sub-centers Network (Regional Extension Services) Network of five regional sub-centers providing localized tea research, planting material distribution, and extension services to tea growers across Bangladesh's tea-growing regions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23 high-yielding tea clones and 5 seed varieties developed and released for Bangladeshi tea cultivation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Bangladesh Tea BoardflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 1957BTRI operates as a constituent organization of the Bangladesh Tea Board under the Ministry of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Tea Board provides organizational oversight, funding, and policy direction. BTRI's Chairman is also the Chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Board (currently Major General Md. Mesbah Uddin Ahmed). The relationship is parent-subsidiary within the government structure.
• Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTRI is one of the 12 National Agricultural Research System (NARS) institutions under BARC. This network connects BTRI with other major agricultural research institutes in Bangladesh including BRRI, BARI, and others for collaborative research and knowledge sharing.
• Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), MymensinghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTRI scientists pursue PhD degrees at Bangladesh Agricultural University under collaborative programs. Dr. Ismail Hossain completed his PhD at BAU under the HEQEP-AIF-UGC fellowship on germplasm collection and screening of drought-tolerant tea varieties. Joint research collaboration exists between the institutions.
• Project Development Unit (PDU), Bangladesh Tea BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDU and BTRI jointly provide training services to tea industry stakeholders. Both organizations collaborate on technology transfer and extension services for tea gardens. Joint workshops and stakeholder meetings are regularly organized between the two BTRI sister organizations.
• Ministry of Commerce, Government of BangladeshflagshipOthersBTRI operates under the Ministry of Commerce of the Government of Bangladesh. The Ministry provides budgetary support, policy framework, and administrative oversight for the institute's operations as part of the government's tea industry development initiatives.
• Bangladesh Army (Training Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTRI conducts annual 'Tea Tasting and Quality Control Course for Army Officers' since 2010. Dr. Ismail Hossain serves as Coordinator and Trainer for this certificate course. Similar training is extended to Bangladesh Navy. This partnership builds institutional capacity for tea quality procurement within defense services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's national tea research institute conducting R&D on tea cultivation, processing, and quality across multiple tea-growing elevations. Direct peer with parallel institutional structure, government backing, and research mandate on clone development, pest management, and tea processing technology.
• UPASI Tea Research Foundation, India: South Indian tea research foundation based in Valparai, conducting agronomic and processing research for the south Indian tea industry. Comparable institutional peer providing tea research, advisory, and training services to a defined regional tea industry base.
• Tea Research Institute of Kenya (TRFK): Kenya's national tea research institute, established in 1980, focused on developing improved tea varieties, processing technologies, and smallholder advisory services. Direct peer given comparable mandate as a government-backed, single-country tea R&D body with cloning, soil science, and processing research divisions.
• Tea Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (TRI, CAAS): China's national tea research institute under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, conducting tea breeding, cultivation, and processing R&D. Comparable as a national tea research body with public mandate, though operating at significantly larger scale and funding.
• Tea Research Association (Tocklai), India: India's oldest and largest tea research institute, established in 1911 in Jorhat, Assam. Operates as a national tea R&D body with similar focus on clone development, pest management, tea processing, and extension services. Direct institutional peer given parallel mandates as national tea research bodies in South Asia.
• National Tea and High Value Crops Research Institute (NTHRI), Pakistan: Pakistan's tea and high-value crops research body under the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, conducting tea variety trials, breeding, and processing research. Comparable as a national government tea research institute with public mandate to develop domestic tea cultivation.
• Indonesian Tea and Cinchona Research Institute (ITDA): Indonesia's government tea research institute under the Ministry of Agriculture, focused on tea cultivation, breeding, processing, and extension services. Comparable as a national government tea research body operating across multiple sub-centers with clone and seed release programs.

Emerging players

• Tea Research and Technology Adaptation Centre, Tanzania (TRIT): Tanzanian tea research body focused on smallholder tea development and processing technology for East African tea growers. Comparable as a publicly-funded tea research institution focused on smallholder services, though more limited in scale and clone development assets.

Regional players

• Tea Research Institute of Malawi (TRIM): Malawi's tea research entity supporting the country's tea industry with agronomic and processing research. Comparable as an African national tea research institution, though serving a smaller tea acreage than Kenya's TRFK.

Others

• Bangladesh Tea Board: Parent governmental body of BTRI, handling tea industry regulation, policy, and development oversight. Included as adjacent oversight entity rather than direct research peer, since BTRI operates as a constituent R&D organization under the Tea Board.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bangladesh-tea-research-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bangladesh Tea Research Institute