<h1>Small tea growers seek national policy, legally backed minimum sustainable leaf price, credit, insurance, and institutional support</h1> A national association of small tea growers has petitioned the Prime Minister, seeking a dedicated national policy to support small tea growers, who contribute over half of India's annual tea output. The association highlights legal and policy gaps causing financial distress, including volatile green leaf prices, inadequate access to credit, and lack of scientific and institutional support, leading many growers into debt. It calls for a legally backed minimum sustainable price for green tea leaves and inclusion of small growers within existing government schemes such as agricultural credit and crop insurance. The association urges the central government to formally adopt a comprehensive national policy framework for this sector.