Small tea growers in the Siang Valley have suffered losses this year due to a drop in the price of green tea leaves. The price has fallen to Rs 18-20 per kg this year, down from Rs 30-35 per kg in the previous year.
Small tea farmers from East Siang and Lower Siang districts supply their tea leaves to factories in Assam, and they are likely to face financial hardships, which will inevitably affect the maintenance of their tea gardens.
The government needs to intervene to ensure that farmers receive a minimum support price.
Arunachal Pradesh is one of the top tea-producing states in the country, with most of its output contributed by small tea farmers who sell their produce to factories in Assam-India’s largest tea producer, renowned for its quality.
However, the tea industry has faced challenges over the past couple of years, with climate change and shifting market conditions having major impacts.
The Tea Board of India must step in and implement measures to support the industry as well as the small tea growers if India is to maintain its position as one of the world’s largest tea producers.