TEA TALK

TEA TALK: Govt to map unorganized tea sector in Assam

GUWAHATI: With the unorganized sector in Assam accounting for almost 29 per cent of the total tea production in Assam and almost 14 per cent of the

total tea production of the country, Assam government decided to do the mapping of the tea produced in the unorganized sector in Assam.

To kick start the mapping process, the state government has initiated baseline survey of the small tea growers in the state through the general manager, District Industries and Commerce Centre of Industries and commerce department besides the district administration.

The state government is looking to adopt the Kenyan practice where small tea growers and bought leaf factories (BLF) are organized. Assam industry minister Pradyut Bordoloi told ET, “At present, the state government does not have adequate data about the unorganized sector which comprises small tea growers. The base line survey will document the landholding by small tea growers and the amount of green leaf produced by growers. With complete data in hand, we will come up with policy and regulatory framework, wherever necessary.”

The survey is slated to be competed in another three months time. A senior official in the directorate of tea, government of Assam said, “With documents ready, we will check the quality of Assam tea. If we have mapping done, we can check right from green leaf to the made tea. Necessary policy and guidelines can be issued. The state government has decided to start quality certification of tea manufactured by BLF from reputed certifying agencies.”

Sources added that the state government will also come up with a financial assistance scheme for the unorganized sector as soon as the survey is completed. Even big gardens are at times dependent on small tea growers for getting green leaf. This sector is emerging in a big way. According to an estimate, there are over 60,000small tea growers in the state.

The government has decided to give permanent land possession certificates to small tea growers who have plantations in government land and are not encroaching forest land area. Assam produces 480 to 490 million kg of tea, which is 51 percent of the all-India production.

Sources added that the state government has also levied a cess at the rate of 20 paise per kg of green leaf purchased by the BLF. The government proposes to spend a portion of this fund on development of small and marginal tea growers. Once the survey is completed, the fund can be spent.