India’s small tea growers have urged the government to impose a 100 per cent import duty on cheap imports of the brew, mainly from Nepal, Kenya and other African countries.
The Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers’ Associations (CISTA), the apex body of small tea growers, has also sought a minimum sustainable price (MSP) for green tea leaves for the operations to become sustainable in terms of income and competitiveness.
A delegation of small tea growers (STGs), which met the officials of the Union Commerce Ministry recently, said that around 2.5 lakh small tea growers in the country contribute to over 50 per cent of the total crop produced in the country.
Cost study panel likely
A high-level delegation of CISTA recently met senior officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to inform about the critical challenges faced by the country’s 2.5 lakh small tea growers, who together contribute over 53 per cent of India’s total tea production.
The Ministry has agreed to commission a ground-level cost study and set up a National Pricing Committee for fair and transparent MSP implementation, according to CISTA.
Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty, president, CISTA, said, “This meeting marks a major step forward in securing the future of 2.5 lakh small tea growers across India. With over 53 per cent share in the nation’s tea production, STGs are the silent drivers of the Indian tea economy. We are encouraged by the Ministry’s assurances and will continue to work closely for policy reforms that ensure sustainability, fair prices, and global recognition for Indian tea.”
Published on September 5, 2025