Lok Sabha Question No. 2430 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Sustainable Agricultural Practices in Assam
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2430

TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH  AUGUST, 2024

## SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IN ASSAM

2430: SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state: (a) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  initiatives  to  promote  sustainable agricultural practices in Assam's tea estates; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  measures  to  ensure  fair  competition  and protect the interests of domestic tea producers from cheap imports; (d) if so, the details thereof; and (e) the  details  regarding  the  specific  financial  assistance  schemes  or  market  access initiatives  designed  to  support  Assam's  tea  estates  during  the  last  five  years,  year  and

- district-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a)  &  (b):  Yes,  the  following  initiatives  have  been  taken  to  promote  sustainable agricultural practices in Assam's tea estates: -

-  The government of Assam has amended the Assam Fixation of Ceiling  Land Holding Act 1956 in the year 2022, allowing 5% of total land of tea garden to be inter alia used for eco-friendly tea tourism, cultivation of agricultural crops, green power, horticulture and animal husbandry.
-  Emphasis is given on the use of Nano Urea fertilizers which offer benefits in nutrition management through their strong potential to increase nutrient use efficiency. For sustainable tea leaves production, Nano Urea has gained important place among the Small Tea Growers and Big Tea Gardens in Upper Assam Region. In the Tea Growing year 2023, Nano Urea has been used significantly in Tea Leaves production in Assam.
-  Drone  based  Nano  Urea  (Liquid)  Fertilizer  application  was  conducted  at Bamgaon  T.E,  Sonabheel  Tea  Ltd.  Balipara  on  demonstration  basis.  Its objective was Demonstration of Drone Based application of Nano Urea (Liquid) Fertilizers  for  showcasing  the  judicious  use  of  Chemicals  and  Fertilizers  in commercial plantations. It has been seen that the Drone based foliar application of Nano Urea (Liquid) Fertilizer containing 4.0 % total nitrogen (w/v) diluted with 9.5 ML water had a positive incremental effect on shoot growth with increased pluck able shoot density and higher apical growth.
-  Preference is being given for cultivation of Geographical Indicator (GI) tagged crops in  the  Tea  Garden areas  of Assam  due to  fair market  share  in  National  and International markets of Geographical Indicator (GI) tagged crops such as Tezpur Litchi, Kaji Nemu.
-  Unused land of Tea Garden areas of Assam have been opted for  eco-tourism  of Tea Gardens.

(c) & (d): The Finance Department, Government of Assam has introduced "Assam Tea Industries  Special  Incentive  Scheme  2020,  ((ATISIS)"  to  ensure  long  term  financial sustainability  of  the  tea  industry  of  the  state  of  Assam.  As  per  report  received  from Finance Department, Govt. of Assam, the cost of production of orthodox and specialty tea in India is substantially higher than other tea producing countries which makes our orthodox  tea  unviable  in  international  market.  Hence,  Assam  Government  has introduced the "ATISIS, 2020" Scheme to incentivize the manufacturers and to move towards orthodox tea. The scheme comprises of the following four components:

- I. Component I: Interest subvention of 39% per annum on working capital loan. The eligible tea gardens can receive maximum of Rs.20 Lacs per annum for interest on working capital loan.
- II. Component II: An industrial unit  manufacturing Orthodox tea and  Specialty tea is eligible for a subsidy of Rs.7 per Kg against such tea manufactured in a financial year which was further increased to RS.10 per Kg for tea production from 2023-24 to 202728.
- III. Component III: A subsidy of 25% of the cost of Plant & Machinery of orthodox or any other Specialty tea is provided. The subsidy under this head is restricted to 25% of the actual cost of plant &machinery or Rs.30 Lakh, whichever is less.
- IV. Component  IV:  Three-year  Agricultural  Income  Tax  holiday  applicable  for  the financial year 2019-20 to 2021-22 is further extended for another 3 years i.e. till FY 2024-25.

Besides, import duty is applicable to the extent of 100% on teas imported into India. Further, total Tea imports at 22.97 million kg during the Financial Year 2023-24 is only 1.66% of total tea production of 1382.03 million kg in the country.

- (e) The details of financial assistance provided by Tea Board to Tea estates in the state of Assam during last five years is given below. Tea Board under its Tea Development and Promotion  scheme  also  provides  support  for  promotion  of  Indian  origin  Teas  including Assam Tea in International & Domestic markets. Further, in order to boost tea trade from Assam. Tea Board organized various events which inter alia included Buyer Seller meets, exporters conclave and events to celebrate 200 years of Assam tea. The details of financial assistance provided by Tea Board to Tea estates in the state of Assam during last five years as under:

| Year    |   Financial Assistance to Tea estates in Assam (Amount in Rs Lakhs) |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2019-20 |                                                             3166.96 |
| 2020-21 |                                                             5130.98 |
| 2021-22 |                                                             2434.12 |
| 2022-23 |                                                              271.63 |
| 2023-24 |                                                              475.53 |

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