Industry body urges West Bengal to craft comprehensive tea sector revival policy

The Indian Tea Association (ITA) has submitted a series of white papers to the West Bengal government outlining critical policy measures needed to revitalise the state's tea-growing regions. The industry body's recommendations focus on Darjeeling and Dooars-Terai, two of India's most significant tea-producing areas that have faced sustained economic pressures in recent years.

Among the key proposals are direct financial assistance programmes for struggling tea estates, systematic rejuvenation of ageing tea gardens through replanting and soil management initiatives, and modernisation of processing facilities to enhance productivity and quality. The ITA has also advocated for trade policy reforms to improve market access and competitiveness for North Bengal's tea producers in domestic and international markets.

The white papers underscore concerns about declining profitability, labour retention challenges, and infrastructure deficits that have hindered the region's tea sector. Industry representatives argue that targeted state support is essential to attract fresh investment and reverse production downturns that have eroded the economic viability of many estates.

The push comes amid broader efforts to stabilise India's tea industry, which employs hundreds of thousands of workers across multiple states. West Bengal remains among the country's leading tea producers, and the sector plays a crucial role in the region's economy and rural livelihoods.