Demand For Regulation by Small Tea Growers

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Recently, the North East Confederation of Small Tea Growers’ Association (NECSTGA) submitted a memorandum to the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce regarding their demand for regulation and support measures.

North East Confederation of Small Tea Growers’ Association (NECSTGA) is established in June 2024 in Golaghat, Assam.

• Regulation of Leaf Agents – It advocates the Tea Board of India to regulate leaf-dealing agents to ensure transparency and fair pricing.
• It also addresses concerns over quality deterioration due to unscrupulous blending practices.
• Weather-based crop insurance – It calls for the implementation of weather-based crop insurance to mitigate risks from climate change-induced challenges like droughts and heavy rainfall.
• Minimum support price (MSP) – It urges the government to establish an MSP for tea, akin to other crops like paddy and wheat, to ensure sustainable income for growers.
• Extension of Tea Board Schemes – It seeks for the expansion of Tea Board of India’s schemes to all north-eastern states beyond Assam, including Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur.
• It stresses the need for streamlined financial assistance procedures and direct payment systems to benefit small growers.
• Addressing import concerns – It alarms over the recent surge in tea imports from countries like Kenya and Nepal, which undermines local production and pricing.
• Reports a 288% increase in Kenyan tea exports to India between January and October 2024.
• Language and Communication Barriers – It emphasizes the need for Tea Board officers proficient in regional languages to enhance communication and training effectiveness.
• Land documentation challenges – It advocates for the acceptance of village council-issued land documents in states like Nagaland, where traditional land ownership structures exist, to facilitate access to Tea Board benefits.

Small tea growers under NECSTGA contribute approximately 54% of the region's tea production

Reference

The Hindu| Small tea growers seek regulation