Evaluation of Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Tea Factories in Gilan Province: Using Delphi Technique

A three-phase Delphi study was conducted to identify factors affecting efficiency of tea factories in Gilan Province of, Iran. In this context, 20 experts from the Iranian Tea Organization (ITO) and agricultural offices of Roudsar, Amlash, Langaroud, Lahijan, and Siahkal of Gilan Province were selected as the members of the research panel. According to the consensus of Gilan’s tea processing experts provision of suitable tea leaves, benefitting from skilled tea and acquisition of well-established and organized factorywill result in 97.17%, 92.44% and 90.37% efficacy in management of tea processing factories respectively.. Further paying attention to cultural practices, particularly pruning and providing adequate fertilization as well as implementation of mechanized irrigation should be regarded and practiced by tea growers as well as Iranian Tea Organization (ITO). Moreover, training and educating the tea processors in tea factories through conduction of educational courses by using experienced educators as well as coordination of supply of tea leaves by producers according to the processing capacity of factories in each region are considered as important factors and are recommended.