Improving Tea Quality and Productivity for Small Tea Growers

The quality of tea is directly linked to the plantation method. While large, organized tea estates struggle to alter their processes due to recurring expenses, small tea growers with lower costs can readily adapt. This flexibility allows them to enhance productivity and the quality of tea leaves. They can easily replant higher-quality tea plants or modify manuring procedures to meet changing tea demands.

Newly established small tea growers are in an advantageous position to adopt improved plantation practices from the outset. This, combined with the shifting market conditions, presents favorable growth prospects for these new growers.

Small tea growers in the district have considerable potential to improve tea quality by adjusting their farming methods. A study found that seven sample growers are already using organic techniques to produce high-quality tea. Given that small tea gardens in the district have an average landholding of about 8 bigha, adapting farming practices to evolving tea preferences should not be difficult.