Emphasising that small tea growers now contribute over 54% of India’s total production, the ITA chairperson called for a fair and sustainable green leaf pricing model
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Almost a week after devastating floods and landslides ravaged north Bengal, the tea gardens in Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars are still counting their losses. Nearly 30 of the 276 gardens of the region have been affected by the deluge though the industry is yet to come up with a figure of how much damage has been incurred.
Indian Tea Association chairperson Hemant Bangur during the 142 annual general meeting of Indian Tea Association (ITA) in Kolkata had described the floods in north Bengal floods as manifestation of climate change.
“The devastating floods and landslides in North Bengal over the last week-end, particularly in the Darjeeling Hills and part of Dooars, eroding plantation areas and the tragic loss of lives are manifestations of the adversaries of climate change. The urgency to avert or find solutions for such disasters goes without saying,” Mr. Bangur said.
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Representatives of ITA in Dooars have also written to government officials in north Bengal seeking financial support for repair of embankments that have flooded tea gardens. The Tea planters in Darjeeling are also contemplating on seeking the support of West Bengal government’s assistance for restoration of infrastructure and communication within tea gardens for future production.
Participating in the ITA annual general meeting on October 9, Ravi Kota, Chief Secretary of Assam, the state which is the biggest producer of Tea in the country, said that climate change is the biggest long term risk to the industry. Climate Change, which is attributed to heavy or irregular rainfall increase in temperature, is often attributed to reduced production of tea in Darjeeling hills. For Darjeeling tea, the production between January to May 2025 was 1.34 Mkg compared to 1.47 Mkg in the same period in 2023. The shortfall in 2025 can be pegged at 18.24%.
The ITA said that globally, tea production surged by 352 million kg, resulting in a surplus of 418 million kg in 2024. India’s own production, while having dipped in 2023, has rebounded in 2025, with a surplus forecasted.
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Emphasising that small tea growers now contribute over 54% of India’s total production, the ITA chairperson called for a fair and sustainable green leaf pricing model, and a level playing field to offset the statutory and cost disadvantages faced by organized sector producers.
Mr. Bangur said that there has been a sharp decline in auction prices of North India tea affecting profitability, threatening viability and livelihoods of tea growers. “Data released for August 2025 reflect North India tea prices falling by ₹16.87 per kg-well below the price realisation range of last year. This precipitous decline at auctions across the board-down by over 7.6 per cent-threatens viability and livelihoods,” Mr. Bangur said.
The ITA chairperson also described the new tariff regime of the USA as a set back for tea exports,but welcomed the step of the Tea Board on restoration of the Tea Council Committee to monitor exports and imports. “The new tariff regime of the USA is indeed a set-back, affecting the competitiveness of Indian teas in the US markets. We hope our Central government’s ongoing trade dialogue with their US counterparts will bring about a rational review of this imposition,” Mr. Bangur said.
On the actionable front of climate change, the chairperson highlighted ITA’s partnership with Solidaridad Asia to promote regenerative tea farming in alignment with Regen-Agri standards in some of tea gardens.
Published – October 11, 2025 10:30 pm IST
