PAKYONG, May 29, 2026 — Rajya Sabha MP D.T. Lepcha, accompanied by area MLA Pamin Lepcha, attended a Tea Growers’ Meet organised by the Tea Growers’ Welfare Board (TGWB), Gnathang-Machong, in Pakyong to address development, welfare and market-readiness for small tea growers in the region. The gathering brought together Tea Board of India officials, local leaders and growers to discuss cultivation practices, support schemes and plans for local processing infrastructure.
Lepcha thanked Tea Board dignitaries for their guidance and described the development of tea plantations in the state as a “dream project” aimed at creating sustainable livelihoods. He highlighted the potential for tea tourism and township development to boost the local economy, urged growers to protect plantation areas, and advised smallholders to obtain the mandatory QR-based identity cards to access benefits and assistance.
The MP stressed the importance of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and said “no genuine beneficiary should be left out,” appealing for full cooperation from officials and the public to ensure smooth implementation. He and other speakers also called for stronger market linkages and capacity-building for growers.
MLA Pamin Lepcha said tea cultivation could transform the area into a sustainable tea-growing belt with technical and institutional support. She urged the Tea Board to run regular awareness camps, field demonstrations and training programmes, and appealed for the formation of growers’ collectives, cooperatives and regional branding to improve marketing, quality assurance, organic certification, packaging and long-term sustainability. She added that about three acres have been identified for a local tea factory and that land acquisition is underway — a move she called a major milestone for growers.
S. Soundararajan, director of Tea Development at Tea Board India’s Kolkata office, commended local initiatives and emphasised prioritising quality over quantity, pledging continued support through quarterly workshops and institutional training. Kamal Ch Baishya of the Tea Board’s Siliguri zonal office described tea cultivation as eco‑friendly and urged focus on organic and orthodox teas suited to local agro‑climatic conditions.
A presentation at the meet outlined schemes and eligibility for SHGs and small growers, including SCSP/TASP measures, support for organising through FPOs/FPCs, GAP/GMP training, health camps for ST workers and educational assistance for workers’ wards and growers with up to one hectare. TGWB president Kamal Kafley reviewed the region’s plantation history, thanked the MP for support, and set out the board’s future vision. Earlier, Lepcha inspected the proposed plantation site with Tea Board and TGWB officials; panchayat presidents, line‑department officials and tea growers also attended, receiving technical advice on cultivation, processing and market expansion.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/tea-growers-meet-in-gnathang-machong-focuses-on-development-of-local-planters
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