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CM Saha Pushes Tea Sector Reform, Profit & Jobs Priority

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Agartala
  • Dec 04, 2025
  • 1236

Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has instructed the Tripura Tea Development Corporation to transform itself into a financially robust and employment-generating enterprise. Chairing a comprehensive review meeting at the State Secretariat on Thursday, the Chief Minister evaluated the Corporation’s performance and emphasised that Tripura’s tea, in both taste and aroma, is in no way inferior to that produced elsewhere in the country.

Dr. Saha underscored the importance of preserving the natural qualities of the state’s tea while simultaneously undertaking strategic marketing initiatives supported by extensive publicity and brand promotion. He noted that significant profits could be realised by targeting markets in states where tea is not grown, thereby expanding the reach of Tripura’s tea beyond regional boundaries. Reinforcing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Vocal for Local” vision, the Chief Minister urged wider utilisation of locally produced tea within Tripura itself.

Tripura’s Tea Industry: An Overview

According to Secretary Kiran Gitte, Tripura’s annual tea production in 2024 stands at 9 million kilograms. The state presently has 5 tea estates under the Tea Development Corporation, 13 operated by cooperatives, and 36 privately-owned estates. In addition, there are nearly 2,800 small tea growers contributing to the sector’s expanding footprint.

Reforms to Strengthen the Sector

A series of initiatives have been implemented to uplift the socio-economic conditions of tea garden workers under the Chief Minister’s Tea Workers’ Welfare Scheme. The daily wage of tea workers has been substantially increased from ₹105 to ₹204. Moreover, modernisation of the Brahmakund Tea Processing Centre has been completed, and a compact tea-processing unit has been commissioned at the Machmara Estate, further enhancing processing capacity and quality control.

Key Dignitaries Present

The review meeting was attended by Minister for Industries and Commerce Santana Chakma; Secretary Kiran Gitte; Chairman of the Tripura Tea Development Corporation, Sameer Ranjan Ghosh; Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha; Secretary to the Chief Minister P.K. Chakraborty; Finance Secretary Apurba Roy; Managing Director of the Corporation Subrata Kumar Das; and other senior officials, all of whom engaged in detailed deliberations on the roadmap ahead.