Lok Sabha Question No. 2666 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Progress of the Tea Development and Promotion Scheme
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2666 ANSWERED ON 16/12/2025

## PROGRESS OF THE TEA DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION SCHEME

2666. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री) be pleased to state:

- (a) the present status of the Tea Development and Promotion Scheme, including its major components and the progress achieved in Assam;
- (b) the number of small tea growers in Assam who have benefited under each component of the scheme during the last five years, along with details of the support provided; and
- (c) the key outcomes observed in Assam's tea sector following the implementation of the scheme, including any changes in productivity, quality or market access?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद) (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (c):  Tea Board is implementing the 'Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (TDPS)' across the country, including in the State of Assam. The scheme inter alia aims to increase the production and productivity of tea, improve quality of tea entering the markets, enhance exports, mobilize small tea growers into forming Self Help Groups and Farmer Producer Organizations (SHGs/FPOs) to enable them to move up the value chain, provide support for  setting  up  of  mini  tea  factories  by  SHGs/FPOs  to  make  them self-  sustainable  and undertake capacity building programs. The TDPS scheme inter alia includes the following components:

- i) Plantation Development & Quality Upgradation
2. ii)  Tea Promotion and Market support
3. iii)  Technological Intervention
4. iv)  Research & Development
- v)  Welfare and Capacity Building Measures

Under the Tea Development and Promotion Scheme, the key activities undertaken in the State of Assam during the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 (till 31.10.2025) inter alia include replantation of tea in 437.42 Ha area; formation of 318 SHGs, 143 FPOs & 26 FPCs; setting up of 31 mini tea factories; conversion of 30.32 Ha area of tea plantations into organic; setting up of 30 farm field schools and organization of 1343 capacity building programs. The export of Indian tea, which includes Assam Tea, has also grown from 716.86 million USD in 2020-21 to 923.89 million USD in 2024-25 with a CAGR of 6.55 %.

The  details  of  the  numbers  of  small  tea  growers  who  have  been  benefited  under  the scheme in last five years are attached as Annexure-I.

*****

## Annexure-I

## Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2666 for answer on 16.12.2025.

## Details of number of Small Tea Growers in Assam who have benefitted from the scheme and support provided during 2021-22 to 2023-24:

| Components (under which was provided to                   | 2021-22     | 2021-22                | 2022-23     | 2022-23                | 2023-24     | 2023-24                |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|-------------|------------------------|-------------|------------------------|-------------|------------------------|
| support Small Tea Growers)                                | Rs. in Lakh | No. of Benefi- ciaries | Rs. In Lakh | No. of Benefi- ciaries | Rs. in Lakh | No. of Benefi- ciaries |
| Plantation Development for Small Tea Growers              | 433.93      | 20103                  | 915.06      | 16717                  | 1074.75     | 4991                   |
| Sector specific action plan for Niti Forum for North East | 12.06       | 1081                   | 110.68      | 68                     | 348.86      | 168                    |
| Welfare of workers                                        | 1.57        | 19                     | 111.48      | 1236                   | 196.59      | 2079                   |
| Total                                                     | 447.56      | 21203                  | 1137.22     | 18021                  | 1620.20     | 7238                   |

Source: Tea Board

## Details of number of Small Tea Growers in Assam who have benefitted from the scheme and support provided during 2024-25 to 2025-26:

| Components (under which support is provided to Small Tea Growers)*   | 2024-25     | 2024-25             | 2025-26 (till 31-10-25)   | 2025-26 (till 31-10-25)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|---------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| Components (under which support is provided to Small Tea Growers)*   | Rs. in Lakh | No of Beneficiaries | Rs. In Lakh               | No of Beneficiaries       |
| Plantation Development and Quality Upgradation                       | 973.87      | 6778                | 1069.44                   | 4534                      |
| Welfare & Capacity Building Measures                                 | 262.18      | 9924                | 205.18                    | 2935                      |
| Total                                                                | 1236.05     | 16702               | 1274.62                   | 7469                      |

Source: Tea Board