Sustainable growth of small tea planters in Assam

Abstract

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in India and across the world. It is also one of the cheapest beverages available in India. The tea industry offers direct employment to more than million workers who come from the socially and economically backward sections. Tea is also a major foreign exchange earner for India. The total turnover of the Indian tea industry is in the vicinity of Rs.9000 Crs. Presently, Indian tea industry is having (as on 18.12.2009). Research Objective: Central Research Question 1 * How is the tea value chains organized in Assam? Sub Questions i) What marketing alternatives and requirements exist to smallholder producers? ii) What are the roles of the different stakeholders in the tea value chains? iii) What constraints exist within the smallholder tea value chains? Central Research Question 2 What business adjustments will be required to improve the tea trade value chain? Sub Questions vii) How can leaf supply into the value chain be increased? viii) What would be the benefit of improving trade value chain leaf supply?