**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding support for tea growers affected by climate change, answered on December 9, 2025. It addresses concerns about the tea industry's crisis in Assam and other North-Eastern States due to climate change. The response outlines measures taken by the Tea Board to combat climate change impacts and support tea growers.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Climate Change Impact on Tea Production:**
* Tea production is affected by factors including old tea bushes, conversion to organic tea, and climate change effects.
* Despite these factors, tea production in the North Eastern Region has grown from 647.20 million Kg to 692.91 million Kg from 2020-21 to 2024-25, with a CAGR of 1.72%.
* Productivity in the region has risen from 1736 Kg/Ha to 1795 Kg/Ha during the same period.
* **Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (TDPS):**
* The Tea Board is implementing TDPS with an outlay of Rs. 664.09 crores for 2023-24 to 2025-26.
* The scheme aims to increase production, productivity, and quality of tea.
* It includes enhancing exports and mobilizing small tea growers into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
* Support is provided for setting up mini tea factories by SHGs/FPOs to promote sustainability and capacity building.
* The scheme applies to all tea-growing areas, including Assam and other North-Eastern States.
* **Measures to Combat Climate Change Impact:**
* The Tea Board adopts measures, including planting drought-tolerant cultivars.
* Improvements to farm management practices, integrated nutrient management, and promotion of organic agriculture practices are included.
* Other measures include retaining pruning litter, applying decomposed tea waste, mulching to reduce soil erosion, integrated pest management, maintaining shade trees, and creating drainage systems.
* Rainwater harvesting and capacity-building programs for small growers are also organized.
**Impact Analysis**
**Tea Growers in Assam and North-Eastern States**
* **Impact**
* Experience challenges due to climate change, including irregular rainfall patterns and rising temperatures.
* They are also benefiting from government initiatives aimed at improving tea production, productivity, and sustainability.
* **Action Required**
* Participate in capacity-building programs.
* Implement sustainable agricultural practices.
* Engage with SHGs/FPOs to enhance their production and market access.
**Tea Board**
* **Impact**
* The Tea Board is responsible for implementing the TDPS.
* It is also responsible for coordinating and executing measures to combat climate change impacts on tea cultivation.
* **Action Required**
* Continue implementing TDPS to support the tea sector.
* Continue promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices among tea growers.
* Organize capacity-building programs for small growers.
Key Entities Referenced
Tea Board: The regulator implementing measures to combat climate change impact on the tea industry.
Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (TDPS): A scheme implemented by the Tea Board to benefit the tea sector, with focus on production, quality, and support for small tea growers.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry: The primary ministry responsible for the tea industry and the subject of the parliamentary question.
Assam: A key tea-producing state particularly affected by climate change, where the policy has a significant impact.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1607
ANSWERED ON 09/12/2025
SUPPORT TO TEA GROWERS AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE
1607. SHRI RANJIT DUTTA
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री) be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the tea industry, particularly in Assam and other
North-Eastern States, is facing a severe crisis due to adverse impacts of climate change,
including irregular rainfall patterns and rising temperatures;
(b) if so, the details of the assessment made by the Government regarding the loss in tea
production and productivity caused by climate-related factors;
(c) whether the Government proposes to provide a special revival package to and support tea
growers and the tea industry affected by climate change; and
(d) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to promote climate-resilient tea
cultivation, research and sustainable agricultural practices in order to protect the livelihood
of tea garden workers and small tea growers?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (c) The tea production gets impacted by various factors which inter alia include old and
senile tea bushes, conversion to organic tea and effects of climate change. However, during the
period 2020-21 to 2024-25, the tea production in the North Eastern Region, including Assam, has
grown from 647.20 million Kg to 692.91 million Kg, with a CAGR of 1.72 %. During the same
period, the productivity of tea in the North Eastern Region has seen a rise from 1736 Kg/Ha to
1795 Kg/Ha.
Further, Tea Board is implementing the ‘Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (TDPS)’ for the
overall benefit of tea sector of the country with an outlay of Rs. 664.09 crores for the period 2023-
24 to 2025-26. The scheme inter alia aims to increase the production and productivity of tea,
improve quality of tea entering the markets, enhance exports, mobilize small tea growers into
forming Self Help Groups and Farmer Producer Organizations (SHGs/FPOs) to enable them to
move up the value chain, provide support for setting up of mini tea factories by SHGs/FPOs to
make them self-sustainable and undertake capacity building programs. The scheme is applicable
for all tea growing areas of the Country, including in the State of Assam and other North Eastern
States.
1(d) The measures adopted by the Tea Board to combat the impact of climate change inter alia
include planting of drought tolerant cultivars, improving farm management practices, integrated
nutrient management, promoting organic agriculture practices in tea, retaining pruning litter and
share tree droppings, application of decomposed tea waste, mulching with succulent vegetative
matter to reduce soil erosion and minimize raising soil temperature, integrated pest management,
maintaining optimum population of shade trees, creation of proper drainage systems, rain water
harvesting for better water management and organization of capacity building programmes for
small growers on sustainable agricultural practices.
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