Question : Small Tea Growers

(a) the total number of small tea growers in various States of the country at present, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government proposes to unveil a new notification/guidelines for setting up mini and micro factories for small tea growers through the Tea Board of India;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the salient features of these guidelines; and

(d) the details of various benefits/ assistance being provided by the Government to small tea growers including the measures to boost their tea cultivation?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

a) to d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.



*****



STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.104 FOR ANSWER ON 25TH JULY, 2016 REGARDING “SMALL TEA GROWERS”


(a): Estimated number of small tea growers in various states of the country is around 2 lakh. State-wise details are at Annexure.

(b) & (c): In order to encourage the small tea growers to have their own tea producing units and get better price for their produce, it has been proposed to amend the Tea (Marketing) Control Order, 2003 so as to define Mini and Micro factories and to exempt them from obtaining No Objection Certificate for manufacturing tea.

(d): Various benefits/assistance being provided by the Government to small tea growers including the measures to boost their tea cultivation are as follows:

i. The Tea Development and Promotion Scheme implemented by the Tea Board has a separate component for the development of small tea growers. The scheme aims at addressing the special needs of small tea growers, particularly in the area of improving production and productivity and establishing processing factories with special focus on enhancement of quality. Financial assistance of around Rs.55.56 crore has so far been extended to the small tea growers in the XII plan.

ii. A separate Directorate under Tea Board, headquartered at Dibrugarh, Assam has been set up for catering to the developmental needs of small tea growers. The Directorate through its sub-regional offices carries out extension activities aimed at improving quality, consistency and better price realization of Tea.

iii. In order to ensure better price to small tea growers who supply tea leaves to factories, price sharing formulae have been notified for different tea growing states. Payment of green leaf price to the growers is closely monitored by the District Green Leaf Price Monitoring Committees.

*******



Annexure referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No.104
for answer on 25th July, 2016

Estimated State wise breakup of the Small Tea Growers in the country:

State No. of Small Growers
Assam 95500
Tamil Nadu 50000
West Bengal 29800
Kerala 10000
Bihar 5000
Tripura 3500
Nagaland 2300
Himachal Pradesh 1000
Mizoram 850
Arunachal Pradesh 600
Meghalaya 500
Uttaranchal 500
Manipur 250
Sikkim 200
Total 200000