The manufacturing of tea has a long history in Assam, which is renowned for its beautiful tea gardens. About 1.22 lakh certified small tea growers in the state produce 52% of the state’s total tea crop. Small-scale tea producers in the area, however, have long struggled with a variety of issues, including restricted access to resources and markets.

In recent years, Assam’s small tea growers are spearheading a remarkable transformation in the tea landscape with the support of Solidaridad’s Trinitea programme. This programme, initiated by Solidaridad a global development organization in collaboration with ITA, has been instrumental in empowering small tea growers in Assam by providing them with traceability systems, technical expertise, and enhanced market opportunities.

The collective efforts between Solidaridad and the small tea growers are revolutionizing the industry, creating sustainable practices, and uplifting the lives of growers, said a statement.

The small tea growers in Assam have traditionally encountered significant hurdles, including limited access to resources, lack of infrastructure, and issues related to traceability. Moreover, middlemen often exploited the growers, leaving them with low returns for their efforts. These challenges posed a threat to the sustainability of the tea industry and the livelihoods of small growers. In response to these challenges, Trinitea emerged as a game-changer for Assam’s small tea growers.

The programme has been pivotal in providing small tea growers with traceability systems, ensuring transparency and accountability in the supply chain. By implementing these systems, the program enables tea growers to track their teas from the plantation to the consumer, ensuring that the teas are ethically produced, sustainable, and of the highest quality.

Md Amin, president of the Small Tea Growers Association, Tinsukia district, expressed his appreciation, stating: “The traceability systems provided by the Trinitea Program have empowered us to showcase the integrity of our teas. We can now assure buyers and consumers that our teas are produced sustainably, with utmost care for the environment and workers’ welfare.”

Talking about the crucial thoughts behind the initiative, Shatadru Chattopadhayay, managing director, Solidaridad Asia, stated: “It is an effort between Solidaridad Asia and the Indian Tea Association (ITA) to promote sustainability, inclusivity, and fairer trade in the Indian tea sector. With the Trinitea programme, we hope to help farmers adopt good agricultural, social, and environmental practices that will enable them to supply high-quality green leaves to tea factories to produce higher-quality teas that will fetch competitive remuneration for Small Tea Growers in the market, while also ensuring greater inclusivity and transparency from farm to cup.”

“Over 1,00,000 small tea farmers across Assam, North Bengal, and, south India are currently part of the programme. Trinitea aims to improve by creating opportunities for industry players in farming and labour practices, green leaf quality, environmental impact, market access, and traceability,” he added.

The scheme offers technical assistance and training to small tea growers in addition to traceability. The curriculum provides growers with the skills and knowledge they need to implement sustainable farming practises through capacity-building seminars, training, and knowledge-sharing events. Additionally, it concentrated on improving market prospects for small tea growers. By creating direct market connections and disseminating market intelligence, producers can get in touch with customers who appreciate openness and sustainability. Growers are helped in snagging higher-value markets through focused branding, packaging, and marketing support.

(This story has not been edited by Bharat Express staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)