Assam: Small tea growers threaten stir over low green leaf price

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: The price of green tea leaves has fallen in a few districts of Upper Assam. Following this, the Jorhat District Committee of the All Assam Small Tea Growers’ Association has threatened to hit the streets after August 2, to protest the falling price of green tea leaves. The tea growers’ body stated that they have already informed the district commissioner (DC) of Jorhat district regarding the fall in prices and the planned demonstration.

Small tea growers contribute around 50% to the total tea production of the state. Assamese youths are primarily connected to the production of green tea leaves, with a majority of small tea gardens established by this section of the society.

Talking to The Sentinel, secretary of the Jorhat District Committee of All Assam Small Tea Growers’ Association, Krishna Prasad Sarma, today said, “We got to a certain extent good prices for our green leaves at the start of the season but towards the second week of July, the prices started to fall gradually. Now, bought leaf factories in Jorhat district are paying between Rs 18 and Rs 22 per kg of green leaf. Some of the bought leaf factories have put up signs saying that the best quality leaves would be sold for Rs 30 per kg. However, some of the factories do not pay Rs 30 even if we supply best quality green leaf. If we’re paid Rs 18 to Rs 22 per kg, we are not even able to cover our costs. But, the made tea manufactured by the factories from our green leaf fetches them good prices in the market.”

He added, “On July 29, we met the Jorhat DC to apprise him of the situation and the demonstration planned by us after August 2. We will wait for a response till then. After that we will not remain in our gardens but hit the streets in protest. Every year, we face the same issue, but the government has not taken any steps to correct the situation. We hope the state government will be more proactive this time.”

President of the committee, Jibon Saikia, and a few other senior functionaries of the committee comprised the delegation that met the Jorhat DC yesterday. The team also met the officials of the Jorhat office of the Tea Board of India.

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