Guwahati, Sept 29/–/ Small tea growers and industry leaders took part in a national small tea growers’ conference here on Friday and pledged to secure the tea industry’s long-term sustainability.
The conference primarily emphasised the significant role of small tea growers in the Indian tea industry, their challenges and the need for knowledge empowerment.
The challenges encountered by small tea growers range from complexities of cultivating and nurturing tea plants to intricacies of processing and marketing their yields.
The conference called for increased cooperation and support from organised sectors and government agencies to improve agricultural practices.
The core message revolved around the imperative of quality improvement in tea production to address oversupply, production costs and supply-demand challenges.
Jointly organised by Solidaridad, an organisation which champions the cause of the small and marginal farmers, workers, and miners, along with the Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers’ Associations (CISTA), the conference provided a platform for industry leaders, experts and small tea growers from across India to address the challenges and opportunities in the tea sector.
Organisations such as the All Assam Small Tea Growers Association (AASTA), All Bodoland Small Tea Growers Association (ABSTGA), Jalpaiguri District Small Tea Growers Association (JDSTGA), and Small Tea Growers Associations of South India also provided support in organising the conference.
“Small tea growers have not only managed to carve a niche for themselves but have also greatly contributed to the overall tea production in India,” said Shatadru Chattopadhyay, managing director of Solidaridad Network Asia.
“The conference provided a unique opportunity to shed light on their extraordinary efforts and the critical role they play in the industry’s success,” he said.
Former chairman of Tea Board, Prabhat Bezbaruah emphasised the importance of supporting small tea growers and empowering them for quality tea production.
Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty, chairman of CISTA, said, “The small tea growers’ segment is one of the most revolutionary and dynamic elements in the Indian tea industry. We must ensure their sustainable development and empower them with the knowledge and resources required to produce high-quality teas.”
Speaking on the challenges, Baidyanath Borah, a small tea grower from Tinsukia said, “We are at the forefront of tea cultivation, but we lack the necessary support and knowledge to enhance our product quality. This conference has shed light on the challenges we face and the potential for improvement.”