Centre to look into small tea growers’ woes

Kolkata: The Union commerce ministry on Wednesday gave small tea growers (STG), which produce around 52% of the country’s total output, the assurance of looking into the problems that have been plaguing the sector for the last few years.A national-level delegation of STG body Cista, led by its president Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty, met with Union commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal at Banijya Bhawan in New Delhi and handed over a status report on STGs of India. Cista, through the report, has sought for plantation development support, training and capacity building to improve quality and mechanization support for improving quality and cost effectiveness for 2.5 lakh STGs.“Following a discussion on issues like green leaf price, agricultural farmer status, stagnant pricing, sagging consumption and a dedicated STG fund, the commerce secretary has told us that STGs have the capability to improve the quality. The Centre will take steps for the uplift of this sector,” Chakraborty told TOI.CISTA engaged BDO India to bring out the status report, highlighting the challenges faced by STGs, and sought policy intervention from the Centre for ensuring remunerative economic returns to STGs.