Mamata rejects farmer status for small tea growers, warns against tax hike
During her three-day visit to Siliguri, chief minister Mamata Banerjee did not shy away from making sharp observations and taking firm decisions.
During her three-day visit to Siliguri, chief minister Mamata Banerjee did not shy away from making sharp observations and taking firm decisions.
Over two lakh small tea growers from the Northeast, under the banner of the North East Confederation of Small Tea Growers’ Association, have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging immediate intervention to protect the Indian tea industry, which has a legacy of over 200 years.
This recognition, they argue, would enable small tea growers to benefit from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative, which promotes formation of Farmers Producer Companies (FPC) for traditional agricultural farmers.
Hundreds of Small Tea Growers have been demanding reasonable price of green tea leaves. Jalpaiguri District Small Tea Growers’ Association (JDSTGA) today served a representation to the Assistant Director of Tea Development, Tea Board, Jalpaiguri region, on this issue.
The Assam government on Thursday distributed Rs 64 crore under its special incentive scheme among 370 tea gardens here at a ceremonial event.
According to the Tea Board's records, India is the world's second largest producer of tea. In the financial year 2018-19, the production amounted to 1,350 million kg, which was around 23 per cent of the world's total tea production