DOOMDOOMA: Small-scale tea growers form an essential part of the tea industry of the state. The farmers demanded that their problems needed to be solved, otherwise they would take to protests.
The massive meeting was organised in a public playground in the Doomdooma locality and saw the presence of hundreds of small tea growers on Friday. The men and women also braved the scorching heat to discuss the various problems faced by the people. They mentioned that if the government does not pay heed to their demands, they will be forced to take to the streets. The Tinsukia unit of the small tea growers association mentioned that they will soon take on the protests.
Previously, the All Assam Small Tea Growers’ Association (AASTGA), Dibrugarh unit on Thursday urged the government to consider to enact a law to ensure banning of imported tea leaves in the State. The AASTGA, Dibrugarh unit staged a sit-in protest at Chowkidinghee in Dibrugarh against their various demand. Talking to The Sentinel, Rubul Hatibaruah, president of AASTGA, Dibrugarh district said, “We urged the State Government to enact a law to ensure the banning of imported tea leaves in Assam. Due to imported tea leaves, the small tea growers of Assam are getting low prices. The green tea leaves are penetrating in Assam market from other states which created problem for the small tea growers of the State.”
“Now the small tea growers of Assam are getting Rs 14 to 22 per kg green tea leaves. The variable minimum benchmark price (MBP) for green tea leaves has been between Rs 34 and Rs 38 per kg. The bought tea leaf factories should pay the small tea growers at the minimum benchmark process and a higher price for quality green tea leaves,” Hatibaruah said.
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