Makaibari partners with small-scale tea growers in Darjeeling push

Makaibari, one of India's oldest tea estates operating in the Darjeeling region, is moving to integrate small-scale tea growers into its production and supply network. Under the new arrangement, the company has set a target to source 25 per cent of its total tea requirements from independent small growers, blending their produce with its own estate-grown tea.

The initiative is designed to create a mutually beneficial partnership, with small growers receiving an equal proportion of profits generated from the blended product sales. This revenue-sharing model aims to provide smallholder farmers with enhanced income opportunities and greater market access in the competitive tea sector.

The Luxmi Group, which owns Makaibari, expressed confidence that the partnership would deliver tangible growth benefits. Company officials project a 20 per cent annual boost to operations through this sourcing model, leveraging the combined production capacity and quality offerings of both estate and small-scale producers.

The move reflects broader efforts within India's tea industry to establish sustainable linkages between large established producers and grassroots cultivators, addressing both supply chain efficiency and farmer livelihoods in traditional tea-growing regions.