At the BTC Secretariat’s conference room on Monday, Grameen Sahara arranged a consultation meeting with government representatives regarding the institutional development of small tea growers. In the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), a non-profit organisation called Grameen Sahara has been advocating for “SusTAIN- Sustainable Tea Leaf Production through Agro-ecological Intervention.” The Transform Trade (TT)-backed SusTAIN Project seeks to promote creative and long-lasting answers to global problems.
The TT, a global organization, collaborates with producer collectives and social enterprises to support sustainable livelihoods and income generation. Key areas of focus include agricultural development, irrigation support, financial literacy, and government advocacy. Key guest speakers discussed the Kisan Credit Card loan scheme, PMKSY scheme, and integrated farming ideas. They stressed the importance of convergence between stakeholders for sustainable business models.
The speaker discussed various initiatives to support small tea growers in India, including exposure visits, technical training, and support for value addition, packaging, and branding. He also discussed the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund, which offers loans and climate-resilient farming training. Dr Subhangkar Roy emphasized soil health and minimizing chemical use, while Bijit Basumatary, Secretary of the All-Bodoland Small Tea Growers Association, shared the challenges faced in forming FPCs. He also advocated for agro-ecological practices.