Tea Board faces criticism over TMCO implementation

Small tea growers of Assam have criticised the role of the Tea Board of India in implementing Tea Marketing Control Order (TMCO) Act of 2003 in spite of the state government issuing a directive to the Board following widespread resentment among the small tea growers after price of green leaf tea touched rock bottom last month in Assam.

TMCO envisages price sharing formula between the tea manufacturers and green leaf suppliers based on the total gross proceeds from the sale of manufactured teas.

The small tea growers have alleged that the Tea Board was working “hand in glove” with big tea companies to “stem the growth of small tea growers in the state”.

 

Despite the state government’s directive only a handful of tea factories were sharing their required data and figures with the Tea Board for implementation of TMCO.

“When the state government had asked for implementation of TMCO, how can the Tea Board surrender to the wishes of the big companies? Though a committee was formed by the Tea Board recently to implement TMCO, that couldn’t do anything as big companies do not want TMCO’s implementation. The Tea Board just represents the interests of the big companies and works in tandem with the big companies to wipe us out of the business,” said Hemanta Gohain, a small tea grower and also Ex-General Secretary of All Assam Small Tea Growers’ Association (AASTGA).

Gohain alleged that the big companies had unleashed a “syndicate raj” in the state and the Tea Board’s role had been that of a mute spectator.

The small tea growers’ also questioned the role of the state government and said “besides giving assurances, the state government wasn’t doing anything. “

The small tea growers said they were willing to accept the organised tea sector’s demand for implementation of TMCO throughout the year, and not just when small tea growers’ are at a disadvantaged position, but “now it’s clear that organised sector does not want that too.”

“There should be a committee of Tea Board to monitor that small tea growers are not exploited anytime. Why is it that we need to go to them every time and beg for their intervention? Why can’t the Tea Board ensure vigilance throughout the year,” said Samir Roy, President of National Federation of Small Tea Growers India (NFSTGI) and also a member of the Tea Board.

The price of green leaf tea, purchased by the bought-leaf tea factories (estate factories also buy green leaf from small tea growers should there be any drop in the production in their gardens), fell drastically last month. It had even fell to as low as Rs. 3, after hovering around Rs. 15 a month back, or even touching Rs. 23 a few months earlier. The sudden decline in the price of green leaf had led to widespread resentment among the small tea growers, many of whom are marginal cultivators.