Amendments to Tea Marketing Control Order 2003 for Small Tea Growers

The Minister of State for Commerce, Nirmala Sitharaman, proposed amending the Tea (Marketing) Control Order 2003 to include definitions for mini and micro-factories for small tea growers. Approved by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, this allows small growers and producer companies to establish such factories to manufacture tea leaves.

The Tea Board of India implements this scheme, which includes a component dedicated to the development of small tea growers. The Board provides subsidies to these growers specifically for setting up mini and micro-factories within their plantation areas.

This scheme's primary focus is on developing tea factories and securing better prices for tea products, primarily benefiting small tea growers. The core objective is to enhance tea quality, improve transportation, and streamline green leaf collection from smaller gardens.