The Jorhat tea e-auction platform will start operating from mid-February next year for which the Tea Board commenced online registration of buyers and sellers on Thursday.

The Jorhat e-auction centre will be run by mjunction, a joint venture between Tata Steel and SAIL.

Tea Board deputy chairman Arun Kumar Ray said the sellers and buyers would have to e-register themselves for onboarding onto the platform.

“Tea bought through the platform would be delivered at the doorstep of the buyers for which logistical partners would be roped in,” Ray said.

The official said tea would be kept at a warehouse in Jorhat after the auction.

“The logistical partners will dispatch the tea to the buyers while Tea Board will ensure its delivery,” he said.

Ray said the board will also appoint third-party tea tasters for neutral testing. The tea tasters were till now appointed by sellers, he said. The board also launched a corporate credit card for tea buyers facing a liquidity crunch.