North Bengal Tea: Small Tea Growers Focus on Quality Improvement and Sustainable Cultivation

North Bengal's small tea gardens, generally ranging from 5 to 50 bighas, play an important role in the region's tea industry. Industry stakeholders say maintaining quality standards remains one of the key challenges for many small tea growers.

According to tea sector representatives, some tea samples may not always meet prescribed quality parameters during laboratory testing. Experts note that factors such as limited technical awareness, inadequate training, and inconsistent cultivation practices can affect tea quality and market acceptance.

Various awareness programmes, training sessions, and technical guidance initiatives are being conducted by organisations, including the Tea Board and industry associations, to help small tea growers adopt recommended agricultural practices and improve compliance with quality standards.

Factory owners and tea producers have stated that maintaining high-quality production is essential for both domestic and international markets. They have encouraged growers to adopt sustainable farming methods and follow approved cultivation practices to improve product quality and reduce production-related challenges.

Industry representatives have also emphasised the importance of using agricultural inputs responsibly and in accordance with recommended guidelines. Agricultural experts continue to advise growers to follow best cultivation practices to enhance tea quality and improve market opportunities.

The Tea Board and various small tea growers' associations are working with stakeholders to address these challenges through awareness programmes, technical support, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening the long-term sustainability of North Bengal's tea sector.