BACKGROUND the Industries Department would undertake the of their district and the State unit started its task of conducting a State wide garden to garden operation of data cleaning. This was another survey. This was necessary for the Government very diffi cult task as wrong entry, omission of a for undertaking any quality up gradation / data etc would make a lot of difference. After a certifi cation program. This was a daunting task series back and forth sending of missing/wrong with fi gures of 50000 being fl oated. We discussed data, fi nal analysis of the data were carried out. this with the Tea Board and worked out the forms After compilation we debated on the form in and the fi nance. The whole of the Industries which we would place the fi ndings. It was then Department was geared in the fi eld to undertake decided that two publications would follow – this fi rst of its kind survey by the Department. one – a directory of the small growers and the other one – a presentation of the fi ndings for the Assam Tea is a matter of pride for the entire The offi cers and staff of the Department rose to policy makers which is before you. A separate nation. Of late, however, concerns have been the occasion and in November 2009 the survey directory of the Small Tea Growers has also been raised about the declining quality. Different fi nally took off. Small Tea growers Associations prepared, district wise, a database of 68465 Small factors have been attributed by different circles were requested to join in a big way which they Tea Growers in the 14 districts surveyed. for this deterioration in quality. For any initiative did after the initial doubts and hesitation. District for improving the quality we required a database. level meetings with the Deputy Commissioners This entire Survey has been possible only because Although a fairly good database existed for the were conducted. Revenue offi cials were also roped of the leadership provided by the Minister estate gardens, the absence of data for the small tea in with the help of the Deputy Commissioners. A Industries, constant monitoring by the Director growers, has long been felt by the policy makers. very strong monitoring followed by the Director Tea and his team, Deputy Commissioners, There had been a consensus that this segment has Tea and his team visiting district after district. I General Managers and the District team of offi cers, become an important player in the industry but personally visited six districts to conduct these State Information Offi cer of NIC and his team, absence of any ground survey and analysis made monitoring meetings with the DC’s. Minister the Small Tea Growers associations and other it well neigh impossible for the Governments to Industries kept reviewing our progress In April tea bodies. Having reached a logical conclusion plan any policy initiative in this area. Figures had 2010 we were fi nally able to complete the survey to this survey, Industries Department is now to speak. in 14 districts. As the survey forms started rolling tightening its belt to start the quality certifi cation program which is the primary aim.. This survey is At the initiative of the Minister Industries and in the NIC lead by State Information Offi cer the beginning of the long journey ahead to ensure Commerce, Mr. Pradyut Bordoloi , it was decided Mr. Dipak Goswami designed the software so that Assam Tea should retain its name and fame. that the State Government would take the lead in that these entries of the survey forms could be arresting this decline in the quality of the teas from made.To facilitate any problems a number of Ravi Capoor, I.A.S. Assam. A series of meetings were taken by him video conferences were conducted with the Commissioner & Secretary personally with the Industry Captains as well as district offi cials. The District Information Offi cers Industries & Commerce the small growers. At this stage it was decided that of NIC on the other hand uploaded the reports Dispur 2 Indian Tea Industry Production Tea Across the Globe Marketing Tea in India Administrative Matters ASSAM TEA – a most invigorating brew Bought Leaf Tea Factories Small Tea Growers – The Emerging Sector Part II, District wise Details Demography of Production A Drop O' Tea 'Bring me a drop o' tea when morning breaks, And in the drowsy land of Afternoon, That I may toast “the teapot dome” of heaven, When time hangs heavy and the spirits droop, And while the sun his forenoon journey takes, Bring me a little tray, a little spoon, Bring me a drop o' tea-about eleven; A little teapot (with a decent “stroup”) And when the midday meal is timed to stop A little sugar, and a little cream Bring me for goodness sake, another drop! A little drop o' tea - and let me dream” 1 - AQUILO Indian Tea Industry The tea industry in India is about 172 years old. extent are Karnataka, Tripura, Himachal It occupies an important place and plays a very Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Arunachal Pradesh, useful part in the national economy. Robert Manipur, Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Bruce in 1823 discovered tea plants growing Mizoram, and Bihar. Unlike most other tea wild in upper Brahmaputra Valley. In 1838 the producing and exporting countries, India has fi rst Indian tea from Assam was sent to United dual manufacturing base. India produces both Kingdom for public sale. Thereafter, it was CTC and Orthodox teas in addition to green extended to other parts of the country between tea. The weightage lies with the former due to 50's and 60's of the last century. domestic consumers’ preferences. Orthodox tea production is balanced basically with the However, owing to certain specifi c soil and export demand. Production of green tea in climatic requirements its cultivation was India is small. The competitors to India in tea confi ned to only certain parts of the country. export are Sri Lanka, Kenya, China, Indonesia Tea plantations in India are mainly located in and Vietnam. Tea is an agro-based commodity rural hills and backward areas of North-eastern and is subjected to vagaries of nature. Despite and Southern States. Major tea growing areas adverse agro climatic condition experienced of the country are concentrated in Assam, in tea growing areas in many years, Indian West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Tea Plantation Industry is able to maintain other areas where tea is grown to a small substantial growth in relation to volume of 2 Indian tea production during the last one decade. into between Russia and India. Depressed Indianisation due to implementation of FERA There has been a dramatic tilt in tea disposal in scenario again started since 2001 due to change Act started tea cultivation in Kenya. So, it favour of domestic market since fi fties. While in consumption pattern, i.e. switch over from makes business sense for U.K. to buy tea from at the time of Independence only 79 M.Kgs or CTC to Orthodox as per consumer preference Kenya and Kenya became the largest supplier of about 31% of total production of 255 M.Kgs and thus India has lost the Russian market. tea to U.K. Tea is an essential item of domestic of tea was retained for internal consumption, Another reason for decline in export of Indian consumption and is the major beverage in India. in 2008 as much as 802 M.Kgs or about 82% tea to Russia is offering of teas at lower prices Tea is also considered as the cheapest beverage of total production of 981 M.Kgs of tea went by China, South Asian countries like Indonesia amongst the beverages available in India. Tea for domestic consumption. Such a massive and Vietnam. The major competitive countries Industry provides gainful direct employment increase in domestic consumption has been due in tea in the world are Sri Lanka, Kenya, China to more than a million workers mainly drawn to increase in population, greater urbanization, and Indonesia. China is the major producer of from the backward and socially weaker section increase in Income and standard of living green tea while Sri Lanka and Indonesia are of the society. It is also a substantial foreign etc. Indian tea export has been an important producing mainly orthodox varieties of tea. exchange earner and provides sizeable amount foreign exchange earner for the country. There Kenya is basically a CTC tea producing country. of revenue to the State and Central Exchequer. was an inherent growth in export earnings While India is facing competition from Sri The total turnover of the Indian tea industry is from tea over the years. Till 70s', UK was the Lanka and Indonesia with regard to export in the vicinity of Rs. 9000 Crs. Presently, Indian major buyer of Indian tea Since 80s' USSR of orthodox teas and from China with regard tea industry has (as on 18-12-2009). became the largest buyer of Indian tea due to to green tea export, it is facing competition 1692 registered Tea Manufacturers, existence of the trade agreement between India from Kenya and from other African countries 2200 registered Tea Exporters, and erstwhile USSR. USSR happened to be the in exporting CTC teas. Because of absence of major buyer of Indian tea accounting for more large domestic base and due to comparatively 5848 number of registered tea buyers, than 50% of the total Indian export till 1991. small range of exportable items, Sri Lanka and Nine tea Auction centres. However, with the disintegration of USSR and Kenya have an edge over India to offl oad their abolition of Central Buying Mechanism, Indian teas in any international markets.