Guwahati, Feb 13: Experts have emphasised the need for capacity building among small tea growers and Bought Leaf Factories (BLFs) to enhance productivity, improve quality, and ensure long-term sustainability in Assam’s tea sector. At an event in Guwahati, industry leaders highlighted that improving green leaf quality, addressing maximum residue limits (MRL) challenges, and adopting regenerative agricultural practices are vital for strengthening the resilience of the plantation industry.
The second edition of The Tea Next initiative, organised by Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) in Assam’s Golaghat district, brought together around 256 small tea growers and BLF management representatives. The programme focuses on supporting smallholders and BLFs in meeting global trade requirements, sustainability goals, and regulatory compliance.
Speaking at the event, Tea Board India’s Deputy Director D.M. Kakoti reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting sustainable production practices, improving green leaf quality, and addressing MRL-related issues through regenerative farming. Ishpreet Singh, Vice President (Beverages) at HUL, said, “Small tea growers are vital to shaping the future of India’s tea industry. Through Tea Next 2.0, our focus is on enabling farmers and bought leaf factories to meet evolving quality, sustainability and regulatory expectations, while improving productivity and resilience at the farm level.”
Bidhangri Barkakoty, advisor to the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA), described small tea growers and BLFs as the backbone of Assam’s tea industry, stressing that initiatives like Tea Next 2.0 are crucial for raising awareness about quality standards, compliance norms, and sustainable practices. Rajesh Bhuyan, Director of the Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation, noted that the programme provides a practical, field-oriented platform equipping growers with knowledge and tools to sustain livelihoods and enhance tea quality.
Organised in collaboration with NETA and the Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation, the initiative is expected to improve farm-level productivity, strengthen adherence to international standards, and enhance Assam’s tea sector competitiveness in global markets.
