Tripura is emerging as a noteworthy destination for tea cultivation in India, distinguishing itself from other states due to its unique history and recent revitalization efforts. Unlike many regions where British planters initially led tea cultivation, Tripura’s industry began entirely with Indian planters. Despite decades of neglect, recent initiatives have injected new life into tea cultivation in Tripura.
Small farmers, rather than large corporations, primarily engage in tea plantation in Tripura. In recognition of this, the State Government has designated the Tripura Tea Development Corporation as a pivotal agency for fostering the growth of small farmers in the tea industry. Joydeep Dasgupta, the Editor of News Sense, engaged in a conversation with Shri Samir Ranjan Ghosh, the Chairman of Tripura Tea Development Corporation, to delve into the story of tea in Tripura. Here are the key excerpts from their discussion.
Q Historical Perspective:
Tripura has a tea plantation history dating back to 1916 when Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya granted land leases to Indian planters. What led to a lapse in attention, and why are we only now hearing about tea in Tripura after almost a century?
In the early days of tea cultivation started in Tripura in the hands of the Zamindars of East Bengal. The big capitalists and the Europeans did not participate directly and the communication system was not up to the mark at that time. The tea industry in Tripura has been impacted and affected by the several political and social events such as partition and resultant translocation of people and to some extent insurgency problems. The events have lead to changes in the management of the tea gardens, have reduced / truncated the local market for tea produced in the state and have imposed logistical constraints in-sourcing of key farm inputs. Thus, over the past few decades, these factors have led to a decline in productivity and quality of tea cultivation in Tripura.
At present, as the soil and other characteristics are suitable for tea cultivation, some of the plantations have abandoned the old and underdeveloped methods and started cultivation in modern irrigation systems along with replanting in advanced systems to fill the gap, re-planting and extension of tea plantation as well as started planning of quality tea.
Earlier, there was no introduction of Tripura tea. The present Government has spent a lot to marketing of tea and promote its popularity beside a Logo of TRIPURA TEA has also been launched by the Hon’ble Chief Minister in 2018. Presently, Tripura Tea Development Corporation is supplying garden fresh tea to the people of Tripura through various ration shops and co-operative Societies in almost all the Districts of Tripura and after a huge positive response / demand has been created by the consumers / other. Now, Tripura Tea in Tripureswari Brand under Tripura Tea Development Corporation Ltd. (A Govt. of Tripura Undertaking) has been reaching door to door through Fair Price Shops under Public Distribution System (PDS) of the state.
Q. Industry Recognition:
Tea is the second-largest industry in Tripura after rubber, yet it remains relatively unknown. What factors contribute to this lack of awareness?
Everything is need familiarity but Tripura tea has had no familiarity for a long time. It is fact that so long appropriate measures for awareness like proper publicity, promote about Tripura Tea has not been undertaken. It is seen that, there was no Logo of Tripura tea since long. After 2018, the present Govt. has introduced a logo of Tripura tea to promote/ identity the Tripura Tea as like Assam Tea and Darjeeling Tea etc. and no major company has shown interest in advertisement of Tripura tea even no steps yet to be taken to approach any celebrity to be a brand ambassador for advertisement of Tripura tea .
At present, to increase the acceptance of “Tripura tea” to the people of Tripura and outside, the various awareness programs have been undertaken like seminars, use of electronic & print media, social media and others trades fairs and participation in exhibitions and various Government fairs inside and outside of the state.
Q. Tea Varieties in Tripura:
What are the notable varieties of tea found in Tripura?
Tripura Tea Industry has century old, since then, majority of tea plantation with seedling varieties as drought / paste resistant besides considered as yield type. Now, the improvement of the irrigation system besides various type of modern technology for controlling pests by using low toxic pesticides etc. as well as discovered of quality tea variety (TV) clones by TRA, Jorhat. Now majority of the tea plantation in Clone varieties.
Two types of tea are cultivated in Tripura i.e. clonal varieties and seeds varieties with a ratio of 60: 40 respectively.
Q. Scale and Participation:
How much land is currently utilized for tea plantation in Tripura and what percentage of the population is directly or indirectly involved in the tea industry?
At present, there are 54 nos. Tea Estates in our state. Total area of the land allotted for Tea cultivation around 12784 hector area and out of which under tea plantation area is around 6707 hector, besides 1398 hector area are being cultivated by the Small Tea Growers of the state and about 80,000 people (2%) are directly & indirectly involved in the Tea Industry of the state.
Q. Tea Gardens and Ownership:
How many tea gardens or estates are in Tripura, and what is the distribution between private or corporate ownership and ownership by individual tea planters?
Total 54 Nos tea estates are there in Tripura and the details of the same are given below:-
- Tea Garden (TTDC Ltd) : 5 Nos
- Co-Op. TE : 12 nos
- Private Tea Estate : 37 nos
- Small tea growers : 2773 Nos
District wise location of tea Estate: West -19 Nos, Unakoti-16 Nos, Dhalai-5 Nos, Khowai-2 Nos, South-3 Nos, Sepahijala-3 Nos and North -6 Nos.
District wise location of Small Tea Growers : West -371 Nos, Unakoti-1073 Nos, Dhalai-685 Nos, South-84 Nos, Sepahijala-196 Nos and North -364 Nos.
Q. Production Rates:
Annually, how does Tripura’s tea production compare to that of Assam and Darjeeling?
Annually 9/10 milion kgs made is being produced in Tripura which is sold in the Guwahati and Kolkata Auction Centre as well as Local Market.
Q. Processing Units and Quality Control:
How many tea processing units operate in Tripura, and what measures does the Tripura Tea Development Corporation employ to maintain tea quality?
24 nos tea factories are there in Tripura.
| Sl No. | Owner details | Number of Tea Factories | Remarks |
| 1 | Govt. Tea Factories (TTDC Ltd) | 2 Nos. | CTPF, Durgabari and BTPF, Brahmakunda |
| 2 | Co-Op. Tea Factories | 6 nos | Durgabari, Dhalai, Kayedepha, Lilagarh, Ludhua and Panchamnagar Co-op Tea Factory. |
| 3 | Private Tea Factories Owner | 16 nos | Out of the 16 nos. tea factories 3 nos Factory are totally closed namely Gopalnagar, Mahabir and Dharmanagar Tea Factory. |
| Total | 24 Nos | ||
Q. Tea Export:
Can you provide insights into the quantity of tea exported from Tripura?
At this moment Tripura tea is not directly exported to the other country, as per information available with us the maximum number of made tea produced in Tripura is being sold in the Auction Market (Kolkata and Guwahati).
Q. Cross-Border Collaboration:
Tripura has the potential to assist Bangladesh in meeting its tea consumption demands. How can this collaboration be realized?
Tripura Tea Board authorities are also working on a project involving barter of tea to Bangladesh in exchange for the Bangladeshi Hilsa fish. The board is planning to host an international seminar to demonstrate the quality of their tea. Bangladesh buys 65 lakh kg of tea from Sri Lanka. Producing more than 90 lakh metric tons in a year, Tripura also wants to provide tea to Bangladesh.
Q. Public Distribution System:
TTDC supplies tea to every citizen of Tripura through the public distribution system. Could you elaborate on this initiative?
TTDC Ltd. has started distribution and selling Tripureswari Packet Tea through Ration shops under PDS in the AGMC area as a basis of pilot project during 2019-20, subsequently TTDC Ltd. expanded the distribution the Tripureswari Tea in the ration shops in the different Districts of the State through the engagement of the Co-operative societies and others agencies and there is a plan, the product will be delivered to all the families in door to door of all the districts in Tripura and outside of the state in future.
Q. Professional Education:
TTDC is introducing a Tea Management course in collaboration with Maharaja Bir Bikram University. Can you provide details about this initiative?
Course in Tea Management: Tripura Tea Industries has more than 54 tea gardens. Nowadays, don’t get much second-generation labour, because they are all educated, so the TTDC Ltd has planned to start a certificate course in tea plantation. Here, young people take this course and learn about Tea management. Six months of theory and six months of practical on-the-job training in tea estate will be provided in the course. This course will be available at MBB University. In this way, the Government also plans to employ more skilled white-collar job people in tea estates.
Tripura Tea has come a long way and with these progressive initiatives in the years to come it is going to see the light of the day and recognized as the most indigenous Tea brand in the country and across the world, which is long due.
