Building a Wider
Horizon With Labour
Small farmers contribute more than 36% of tea produced in India. Small Tea Growers (STGs) are in located in remote and hilly terrains of India. They are subsistence farmers, who own, on an average, 1.8 acre of land with low monthly income. STGs are at the mercy of leaf agents, processing factories, pesticide companies and money lenders. They are unable to influence the tea value chain beyond the production of green leaves. Growers experience great fluctuation in the price that they receive from the processing factories, for per kg of green leaf, ranging from Rs.22 to Rs.4 in West Bengal and Tamilnadu and Rs.22 to Rs.7 in Assam (2015 season). The documentary, directed by renowned Assamese Film maker Prabin Hazarika, shows how tea farmers, with the support of CEC, braved this situation, gained self worth and confidence and collectively bargained for fairer share in value accrued.
