Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

21-March-2012 17:12 IST

Promotion of Small Tea Industry in Assam

The average production from small grower sector in Assam is around 100 Million Kg and it constitutes nearly 25% of the total production of Assam. A survey conducted by the State Government in 14 districts of Assam indicated that there were more than 68,000 small tea growers. The State Government proposes to continue the survey in the remaining 13 districts and also re-survey the 14 districts surveyed earlier so as to enumerate those small tea growers who have been left out during the initial survey.

br> The Government of Assam has, on 7th February, 2011, notified the “ASSAM CESS UTILIZATION POLICY, 2010”. The Policy is aimed at strengthening the small tea growers and the workers engaged in the small tea growers’ gardens through financial support; organizing them into self help groups and cooperatives and also for setting up of tea factories in the co-operatives sector so as to achieve quality, as well as to get better price of green leaf on the basis of price sharing formula of the Tea Board.

br> The Government of India through the Tea Board of India has taken several steps for development of the tea industry including small tea growers in the country. These measures include extending financial support for re-plantation and rejuvenation of the old and uneconomic tea areas; modernization of the tea processing factories for producing quality teas; market promotion; welfare of the workers of the tea gardens and support for Research and Development institutions for carrying out research aimed at improving production, productivity and quality. A separate Directorate for addressing the developmental needs of small growers with headquarters at Dibrugarh in Assam is being established.

br> This information was given by Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia , Minister of State for Commerce & Industry in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Small tea grower support: policy and Tea Board measures expand surveys, financial aid, and cooperative factory promotion. A state survey found over 68,000 small tea growers in 14 districts and Assam will continue and re survey to include omitted growers. The Assam Cess Utilization Policy, 2010 provides financial support, promotes self help groups and cooperatives, and supports cooperative tea factories to improve quality and achieve better green leaf prices under the Tea Board price sharing formula. Complementary Tea Board measures include assistance for replantation, factory modernization, market promotion, worker welfare, research, and establishment of a Directorate for small grower development at Dibrugarh.