Schemes and Initiatives for Small Tea Growers

Small growers need Tea Board registration and an ID card. New planting is capped at 10.12 hectares, requiring land documents, a possession certificate, and a soil suitability certificate from an empanelled lab.

The replanting scheme supports land preparation, soil rehabilitation, and drainage for small growers, following TRA/UPASI/TRF guidelines on suitable land. The rejuvenation pruning scheme benefits tea plantations in hilly areas (above 2500 ft MSL) and specific regions like Darjeeling, requiring a map of the completed area.

A one-time grant helps form SHGs of at least 30 members, each owning up to 10.12 hectares, to establish efficient leaf collection and transport. The Tea Board encourages SHGs and cooperative groups to set up their own micro, mini, or large factories to improve price realization and address supply issues, requiring a minimum of 200 hectares under command.

The Tea Board designs tailored field-oriented training programs for small tea growers, with local NGOs and institutions conducting district-level sessions. The Small Tea Growers Development Directorate organizes workshops, study tours, and field training for SHGs.

The XII Five Year Plan includes special development packages for small tea growers in Idukki district, Kerala, and non-traditional tea cultivation areas in the North-Eastern States (Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and N.C Hills and Karbi Anglong districts of Assam) to promote development in these high-production regions.