Small tea growers welcome proposal to amend tea Act

SILIGURI: Small-scale tea growers have welcomed an amendment to the Indian Tea Act proposed by the Indian Tea Board (ITB) as they expect the move, if implemented, to benefit this group of planters that contributes around 35% of India’s tea production.

“We are happy that the ITB has kept us in its priority. The changes incorporated into the proposal were suggested by us and in discussion for long,” said Bijoy Gopal Chakroborty of the Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers Associations.

They are particularly happy about the move to officially define the small grower. According to ITB’s proposal to the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industries, a “small tea grower’ is a person who owns less than 25 acres of estate in his name.” The existing Tea Act is silent on this.

Another proposal in the group’s favour is the change suggested on the method that controls extension of plantation.

More importantly, the proposed amendment includes a provision to ensure reasonable pricing of green leaf for the small growers. The provision says: “The Central government may, by general or special order, give directions for ensuring the reasonable price payable by the registered manufacturers for the green leaf bought by them.”