Lok Sabha Question No. 1607 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: Support to Tea Growers affected by Climate Change
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Ranjit Dutta

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1607 ANSWERED ON 09/12/2025

## SUPPORT TO TEA GROWERS AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE

## 1607. SHRI RANJIT DUTTA

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the tea industry, particularly in Assam and other North-Eastern States, is facing a severe crisis due to adverse impacts of climate change, including irregular rainfall patterns and rising temperatures;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  assessment  made  by  the  Government regarding the loss in tea production and productivity caused by climate-related factors;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to provide a special revival package to and support tea growers and the tea industry affected by climate change; and
- (d) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to promote climate-resilient tea cultivation, research and sustainable agricultural practices in order to protect the livelihood of tea garden workers and small tea growers?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (c) The tea production gets impacted by various factors which inter alia include old and senile tea bushes, conversion to organic tea and effects of climate change. However, during the period 2020-21 to 2024-25, the tea production in the North Eastern Region, including Assam, has grown from 647.20 million Kg to 692.91 million Kg, with a CAGR of 1.72 %. During the same period, the productivity of tea in the North Eastern Region has seen a rise from 1736 Kg/Ha to 1795 Kg/Ha.

Further, Tea Board is implementing the 'Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (TDPS)' for the overall benefit of tea sector of the country with an outlay of Rs. 664.09 crores for the period 202324 to 2025-26. 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 scheme is applicable for all tea growing areas of the Country, including in the State of Assam and other North Eastern States.

(d) The measures adopted by the Tea Board to combat the impact of climate change inter alia include planting of drought tolerant cultivars, improving farm management practices, integrated nutrient management, promoting organic agriculture practices in tea, retaining pruning litter and share tree droppings, application of decomposed tea waste, mulching with succulent vegetative matter to reduce soil erosion and minimize raising soil temperature, integrated pest management, maintaining optimum population of shade trees, creation of proper drainage systems, rain water harvesting for better water management and organization of capacity building programmes for small growers on sustainable agricultural practices.

*****