Tea body submits white papers, seeks govt intervention for Darjeeling, Dooars tea revival
Times of India | 26 August 2026
Kolkata: The Indian Tea Association (ITA) has submitted white papers to the state govt, seeking its intervention for the revival of Darjeeling and Dooars tea.
The submitted white papers examined the structural, financial, climatic, labour and market-related challenges the two iconic tea-growing regions are facing and offered a roadmap of policy interventions aimed at restoring competitiveness, strengthening sustainability, protecting livelihoods and promoting long-term investment.
The Darjeeling white paper, in particular, highlighted the sharp decline in production — from 14.5 million kg in 1990 to 5.6 million kg in 2025 — and called for urgent, targeted intervention to safeguard the globally recognised heritage of Darjeeling tea. It proposed an indicative annual financial support package of around Rs 113 crore and sought seasonal industry status for the Darjeeling tea industry.
The white papers proposed a range of measures, including dedicated financial and revival packages, interest subvention, rejuvenation of aging tea areas, modernisation of manufacturing infrastructure, integration of tea plantations with govt welfare and development schemes, appropriate labour and regulatory reforms, support for tea tourism and diversification, and measures to strengthen domestic and export competitiveness.