Tea marketing control order amended to facilitate small tea growers

Guwahati, Jan 07 (KNN) The ministry of commerce and industry has notified  the Tea Marketing Control Order (TMCO) 2003. The amended order has allowed the small tea growers to set up mini tea factory.

Now those small growers, an association of small tea growers or a producer company which sources all the required tea leaf from its own plantation for the purpose of manufacture of tea and having capacity to produce not more than five hundred kilograms (kgs) of made tea per day would be able to set up mini factories.

According to the Tea Board of India, small tea growers were demanding this since long time.

“Tea Growers were demanding this since longer period. This certainly be helpful for the small tea growers and for the tea production,” said Tea Board Official.

Tea is considered as one of the main agricultural produce in the state and is reputed all over the world for its aromatic quality. About 17% of the workers of Assam are engaged in the tea industry.

Though Assam plantation generally produces black tea, the region also produces smaller quantities of green and white teas. There are more than 850 tea estates and more than 2500 tea gardens in Assam that covers thousands of acres of land. (KNN/RAS)