Uttarakhand government takes to tea cultivation to boost tourism

The Uttarakhand state government has resolved to encourage tea tourism in the state in order to curb forced migration from the state renowned for its hills. The government plans to expand the area being used for tea cultivation. A legal scheme is being prepared to bring in investments without any barrier.

“We plan to bring a sizeable chunk of land under tea cultivation by inviting private investments, for which a legal framework is being put in place,” Meharban Singh Bisht, Additional Secretary, Horticulture, told a news paper.
He further said that this initiative is meant to boost tea production, which will give a push to tea tourism. Consequently, forced migration of the farmers from the state in search of better livelihood will be controlled as they will be able to generate more income through tea tourism.

The government is aiming to boost tea sector because the orthodox type of tea local to Uttarakhand sells like hot cakes in foreign countries.

Reportedly, the production of this kind of tea, if given a breakthrough, will garner immense foreign exchange to the farmers.

“Boost in tea cultivation will also give a boost to tea tourism in the state (like in Darjeeling and Assam) as tea grown on the rolling hills will add to the region’s scenic charm,” told Bisht to the newspaper.
With the expansion of tea estates in the landslide-prone hilly area, it would also augment the green foliage and slope stability, which would ultimately enhance the well-being of the environment.