A Study of the Schemes and Challenges Faced by Small Tea Growers in the Northeast Region of India

The State Bank of India (SBI) has initiated a financial aid program of Rs. 100 crore to support 3,000 small tea growers registered under the Tea Board of India norms in the Northeast region, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Meghalaya. This funding aims to assist in establishing mini, micro, and bought leaf tea factories, as well as purchasing vehicles for green leaf transportation. The initiative seeks to address unemployment and boost the regional economy.

Despite efforts from the Tea Board of India, Central and Assam governments, SBI, and various associations, small tea growers remain largely unaware of and unprofitable from the schemes available. This study, focusing exclusively on small tea growers, reveals that a significant number of growers are not engaged with the provided schemes, leading to a lack of benefit. The schemes encompass various aspects such as tea plantation development, insurance, group benefits, replanting, rejuvenation, education, and irrigation facilities. The evaluation indicates that maximum small tea growers are unaware of these beneficial schemes designed for improving small tea cultivation.