IDH, through its Small Tea Grower Sustainability Program (STGSP) convened its third multi-stakeholder meeting to collaboratively chart an action plan for achieving a ‘living income’ in North Bengal’s tea sector. The discussion, in partnership with Jalpaiguri District Small Tea Growers’ Association, aims to unite diverse stakeholders in a shared understanding of living income, following previous dialogues in Assam.
The economy of North Bengal (Dooars, Terai and Darjeeling) is primarily agriculture-based, with tea being the principal crop. These districts contribute 30% of the total tea produced in India. Within tea sector, there are 35,000 STGs which account for 60% of total tea produced in the state, spread across 25,000 hectares. Rajat Roy Kargee, President of JDSTGA said, “It was interesting to learn about the concept of living income and the importance of alternate livelihoods to improve household incomes. We hope to be part of more such discussions in the future.”
Many subsistence farmers in North Bengal face challenges such as aggregation issues, price volatility, and climate change shocks, highlighting the importance of tea in the region’s economy, employment, and incomes. The tea ecosystem in India is collaborating with various stakeholders to develop innovative models for long-lasting impact. The event involved representatives from various organizations, including the Tea Board of India, Jai Jalpesh SHG, Trustea, NABARD, Syngenta Foundation India, WBADMIP, and AFPRO.
