Dibrugarh, Sept 12: For Jasodha Tanti (51), a tea plucker from Bokel Tea Estate, survival remains an everyday struggle.
“We are getting a meagre daily wage of ₹250. Our quarter is in disarray, but management has taken no action to repair it. Every day we work in the garden, yet we are not getting enough to survive,” she said, voicing frustration over being left out of government welfare schemes.
Though conditions in several Upper Assam estates have improved, many workers like Jasodha remain excluded from benefits. Women form the backbone of the workforce, braving long hours under rain or sun to pluck 24–26 kilograms of leaves daily, while men primarily work in factories.
Despite its global reputation, Assam tea is facing turbulent times. The growing import of cheaper Kenyan tea has emerged as a serious threat. “If steps are not taken to curb excessive imports, the Assam tea industry faces the risk of collapse,” warned planter Rajen Lohia.
Falling green leaf rates and declining processed tea prices have worsened the distress, affecting both large estates and thousands of small growers.
The Assam Tea Planters’ Association (ATPA), the state’s oldest body of indigenous planters, has sounded the alarm. It has been highlighted that the current market glut, driven by excessive cropping in recent months, has flooded the market with poor-quality teas. This oversupply has resulted in “crippling price realisations” for the plantation sector, which is already struggling with fixed production costs.
Adding to the industry’s challenges, the ATPA pointed out that a significant portion of teas listed at the Guwahati and Siliguri Tea Auction Centres (GTAC and STAC) were found to be non-compliant with FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) standards this year, as per FAITTA (Federation of All India Tea Traders’ Associations). This non-compliance has led buyers to shift toward South Indian teas and even imported teas from Africa, as packers face legal risks for sourcing non-compliant products. “Major packeteers are losing interest in Assam and West Bengal teas, which is an alarming trend,” Samudra P. Baruva, Chairman of ATPA, said.
The association has demanded a minimum green leaf price of ₹25 per kilo, strict enforcement of quality standards in frontier regions, targeted support for small growers, and stronger checks on imported teas.
“With millions of livelihoods tied to tea in Assam and West Bengal, this is not just about economics—it’s about preserving the identity and heritage of Assam,” ATPA president Baruva said. “The time to act is now.”
Also Read: Senior Ulfa (I) leader Mriganka Asom surrenders on Assam-Arunachal border
Also Watch
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
