(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Dec 3 (KNN) The Government of India has expanded its interventions to strengthen Assam's tea industry through the Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (TDPS), implemented nationwide by the Tea Board.

The scheme focuses on improving tea production and productivity, enhancing the quality of teas entering the market, boosting exports, and empowering small tea growers by organising them into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).

It also supports the establishment of mini tea factories and provides capacity-building training to help growers move up the value chain.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada informed that Rs 152.76 crore was allocated for Assam-specific activities under the scheme for 2021-22 to 2025-26 (up to 31 October 2025), of which Rs 150.20 crore has been utilised.

Key achievements during this period include replantation across 437.42 hectares, the formation of 318 SHGs, 143 FPOs and 26 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), establishment of 31 mini tea factories, conversion of 30.32 hectares to organic cultivation, creation of 30 farm field schools, and the conduct of 1,343 capacity-building programmes.

Exports of Indian tea including Assam tea rose from USD 751.07 million in 2021-22 to USD 923.89 million in 2024-25, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 7.15 per cent.

An evaluation of the TDPS by NITI Aayog's Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), completed in May 2023, found the scheme's implementation satisfactory.

The report highlighted progress in plantation development, SHG/FPO formation, and assistance provided to small growers in setting up processing units.

According to district-wise data, 21,203 small tea growers benefited from the TDPS scheme in 2021-22, 18,021 in 2022-23, 7,238 in 2023-24, 16,702 in 2024-25, and 7,469 growers in the current fiscal up to 31st October 2025.

(KNN Bureau)

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