Lok Sabha Question No. 1593 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Tea Research Associations
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Aashtikar Patil Nagesh Bapurao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1593

ANSWERED ON 29.07.2025

## TEA RESEARCH ASSOCIATIONS

## 1593.  SHRI AASHTIKAR PATIL NAGESH BAPURAO

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्री )  be pleased to state :-

- (a) whether the Government has recently opened any Tea Research Associations in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the names and locations of these associations and if not, the reasons therefor, State-wise:
- (c) the number of tea factories currently operational in the country, State-wise; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  upgrading  the  tea  tourism  infrastructure  in  the country and if so, the details therof?

## ANSWER

वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) & (b): Currently, there are 2 Associations, partly supported by the Tea Board, that cater to the research needs of the tea industry. These are:

The Tea Research Association (TRA), having its research institute at Jorhat, Assam The Tea Research Foundation, United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASITRF), having its research institute at Valparai, Tamil Nadu.

Both TRA and UPASI-TRF have their advisory centres located across different belts of tea growing states and are looking after the R&D needs, imparting training to planters including small tea growers and carrying out knowledge dissemination to the tea industry. No new associations have been opened recently.

(c): Currently, a total of 1963 tea factories are operational in the country. The details of number of tea factories, State-wise, is attached as Annexure-I.

(d): The development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including tea tourism  infrastructure  is  undertaken  by  the  respective  State  Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration. The Union Ministry of Tourism through its schemes of 'Swadesh Darshan', 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation

Drive  (PRASHAD)' and 'Assistance  to  Central  Agencies  for  Tourism  Infrastructure Development' extend financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations for tourism infrastructure development including tea tourism infrastructure in the country. The projects undertaken for development by the Ministry are identified in consultation with State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations/ Central Agencies and are sanctioned subject to submission of project proposals by them,  their  adherence  to  relevant  scheme  guidelines  and  submission  of  suitable Detailed  Project  Reports.  The  projects  sanctioned  under  the  above  schemes  are implemented by respective State Government/UT Administrations.

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## Annexure referred to in Part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1593 for answer on 29.07.2025

| State             |   Number of tea factories |
|-------------------|---------------------------|
| Arunachal Pradesh |                        31 |
| Assam             |                       961 |
| Bihar             |                        12 |
| Himachal Pradesh  |                        46 |
| Karnataka         |                        11 |
| Kerala            |                        79 |
| Meghalaya         |                        11 |
| Mizoram           |                         1 |
| Nagaland          |                        12 |
| Sikkim            |                         1 |
| Tamil Nadu        |                       278 |
| Tripura           |                        22 |
| Uttarakhand       |                         8 |
| West Bengal       |                       490 |
| Total             |                      1963 |

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