Tea growers from WB, Assam press for better implementation of price sharing formula

Emphasising their rights in the tea industry and highlighting a better transparency in Tea Board’s price sharing formula, small tea growers from Assam, Arunachal, Tripura, Mizoram and West Bengal have gathered in Delhi. 

They have gathered as part of an innovative event - “PPS Assembly Celebration of Innovation”  - organised by Centre for Education and Communication, New Delhi, for celebrating the initiatives of primary producer societies and encouraging them for better sustainability.  More than 200 STG representatives who participated in the event, demanded concrete supportive measures from the government to set up their own manufacturing units. Many of these societies are formed by tribal communities and women from these regions.

“Within a month, Tea  Board of India , through Ministry of Commerce,  will come up with notification on guidelines  for setting up mini and micro factories for small tea growers, ” said Tea Board of India Chairman Santhosh Kumar Sarangi, while addressing the PPS Assembly. “Tea Board will allocate more funds for small tea growers. More subsidies will be given for maintaining their water sheds and transportation,” he added. According to him, Small Tea Growers will have to grow up the value chain, become producers and participate in auction on their own. Tea Board will give them training in quality control and make sure the tea produced is of good quality. “Considering the global warming and erratic rains, more and more tea growers will have to encourage into organic farming”, he emphasised. “A win-sin situation will come when tea industry recognises small tea growers... More and more BLFs and Estate factories must come forward to purchase leaf from the societies giving them fairer price”, said Centre for Education and Communication ED J John.