Efforts to restore Assam’s famous tea industry to its old identity have now intensified. In the annual general meeting of the Indian Tea Council in Dibrugarh, it was raised loudly that the government, industry and labourers will have to make united efforts to restore Assam’s tea’s global recognition. In this conference, former Union Minister and President of Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha, Paban Singh Ghatowar said that this is the same industry which was established by the British two hundred years ago and at one time Assam’s tea ruled the markets of the whole world. But with time, due to many challenges, this industry has been left behind. He said that if all stakeholders take sincere steps together, Assam’s tea can once again make its strong hold in the global market. Ghatowar stressed that the government should provide policy support and industrialists should focus on both production and labour welfare.
Quality will be the foundation of revival of the industry
Experts and senior people associated with the tea industry present in the conference said that Ghatowar’s concern was right. Former Chairman of Tea Board of India Prabhat Bezbarua said clearly that if Assam tea has to be respected in the world again, then it is very important to improve its quality. He said that the quality of tea will now become the real key to the existence and expansion of this industry. Bezbarua appealed to the central government to show more sympathy for this industry and take active steps. He said that if the government takes concrete steps in time, then it will not only be economically beneficial but will also bring stability and improvement in the lives of millions of workers. According to the changing demands of the market, now there is a need to further improve the taste, color and health benefits of tea. He also said that new flavors of tea should be prepared by bringing diversity so that it is easy to connect with the younger generation.
Technology and AI will give new energy to Assam’s tea
Senior entrepreneur Manoj Jalan, who has been working in the tea industry for years, emphasized that now it has become necessary to connect Assam’s tea industry with modern technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). He said that this industry is still labor-intensive and the hard work of laborers contributes a lot in it, but if the right technology is adopted, production can be accelerated and the burden of laborers can also be reduced. Jalan also suggested that the government should ensure that technical training is not limited to large tea gardens but this facility should also be given to small and medium scale producers. He said that today the competition in the field of tea production in the world has increased a lot and only those who adopt modern methods along with quality production will survive. Jalan also urged private companies to cooperate in taking technology to tea fields and play a role in taking the industry to the digital age.
New era of expectations with new leadership team
The Tea Council of India has appointed Sarvesh Sahariya as its new chairman for the 2025-2027 session. This new appointment is being seen as a new beginning in the industry. The council believes that Sahariya has the leadership strength and deep understanding of the tea industry, which can take this industry to new heights. As soon as Sahariya took charge, he made it clear that his priority would be to improve the working style of tea gardens, protect the interests of workers and establish Assam tea as an international brand. He said that he wants to formulate a policy in collaboration with the government in which improvements can be brought at every level from production to marketing. At the end of the conference, all the members agreed that if the government, industry and workers work together in the same direction, then Assam tea can once again dominate the world tea market.
