Impact of Infrastructure Development on Assam's Small Tea Growers

Development initiatives by federal and state administrations have greatly enhanced Assam's transport and communication infrastructure. Rural road connections have particularly improved the performance of small tea growers, while advancements in communication infrastructure have connected distant rural areas to mobile and broadband networks. These improvements have collectively reduced transportation costs for inputs, fertilizers, and tea leaves, positively impacting small-scale tea producers.

In Udalguri district, improved communication and transportation infrastructure have created new opportunities for the tea sector. Key small tea garden areas like Phulbari, Rajgarh, Madhupur, Harmutty, Dubi, Tariani, and Johing are now connected by all-weather motorable roads. Sample tea growers confirmed a decrease in transportation expenses compared to previous years. Additionally, almost 80% of small tea growers use the internet, and all are connected to mobile networks, facilitating information exchange on industry trends and boosting small-scale tea production.