Sonowal urges small tea growers to produce quality tea

 A Correspondent

GOLAGHAT, April 8: Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal on Sunday urged the small tea growers of the State to put in concerted effort to produce quality tea and keep Assam tea’s glory intact at the world stage. He took part as chief guest in the open session of the 10th triennial convention of All Assam Small Tea Growers’ Association held at Golaghat Sammay Khetra. Sonowal paid rich tribute to the founder president and secretary of the Small Tea Growers’ Association, Tulsi Kurmi and Gangadhar Saikia, who formed the organization in October 18, 1987.

Saying that youth must be involved in agriculture and organic farming, the Chief Minister stated that Assam tea was famous around the world  for its rich flavour and aroma and all stakeholders must work hard to keep its quality intact. “We must sustain reputation and quality of Assam tea by undertaking best practices and nearly 1.30 lakh small tea growers in the State must stay united under a common platform to achieve success at the world stage,” he added.

He also said that the government had decided to give land pattas to the small tea growers because the sons of the soil must have ownership over their lands and this sense of ownership would result in improved result in cultivation. Allowance of Rs 1000 per month to divyangs in the State, senior citizen pension to all eligible beneficiaries irrespective of BPL or APL status, increase in salary of village heads and Anganwadi workers, help to 1,26,000 SHGs under Kaklata scheme, and smartphones to line sardars were some of the key initiatives of the State Government, he said.

The open session was held under the presidentship of Gopal Krish Khound, president of All Assam Small Tea Growers’ Association. The iugural speeches were delivered by Keshab Mahanta, State Water Resources, Science and Technology and IT Minister. State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora was also present.