Dibrugarh, March 27: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on Thursday launched a new initiative, Tea Next, aimed at training and capacity building for smallholder farmers in the tea industry.
Recognizing their pivotal role, HUL brought together small tea growers, industry leaders, and key stakeholders for this transformative initiative.
A specialized session on capacity building and regenerative agriculture was conducted by HUL, providing valuable insights and practical knowledge to over 300 small tea growers. The event also featured a felicitation ceremony, honoring 26 small tea growers for their dedication and contributions to the industry.
Ishtpreet Singh, Vice President, Beverages, South Asia, Hindustan Unilever Limited, remarked, “Small tea growers are the backbone of India’s tea industry, and the Tea Next initiative underscores our commitment to enhancing their capabilities. By equipping them with the training and resources essential for their success in a rapidly changing environment, we aim to foster sustainable practices in the sector and improve their livelihoods.”
Tuli Mandeepsingh, Procurement Director, Nutrition, South Asia, Hindustan Unilever Limited, added, “The objective of Tea Next is to ensure that small tea growers are well-versed in regenerative agriculture practices and able to adopt them at scale. This will benefit the environment, improve incomes, and elevate the quality of tea produced in Assam and across India.”
The need for regenerative agriculture in the tea industry has been exacerbated by three existential challenges: climate change-induced crop decline, worsening soil degradation, and deteriorating tea quality.
These issues have led to a loss of market competitiveness while simultaneously increasing the economic vulnerability of tea producers. HUL’s Regenerative Agriculture Program was developed in response to these critical challenges facing the Indian tea industry.
The training session also covered responsible pesticide usage, emphasizing compliance with maximum residue limit (MRL) guidelines and FSSAI recommendations. Growers were trained on the correct application of legally approved chemicals and educated on the dangers of banned substances, aiming to reduce harmful chemicals in tea cultivation.
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