Hit hard by a slump in the prices of green leaf since August last, the small tea growers in Assam are now demanding protection against such shocks in future through fixation of a just and reasonable price for their produce.

Besides, they are also asking for a one-time compensation for enabling them to recover from the situation they find themselves in today.

Mr Hemanta Gohain, general secretary of the All Assam Small Tea Growers Association said, that some policy must be worked out regarding the green leaf producers.

The past few months have shown that we are at the mercy of the big factories who buy our produce. They suddenly lowered their purchases and also the price, forcing us to dump thousands of kilograms of green leaf, he said.

He informed that there are nearly 25,000 small tea growers in Assam who, together, have transformed the rural economy in the last decade. The growers have not only made a profit for themselves but had opened up an avenue of earning for their 30,000 direct employees and also contributed towards building roads, bridges and schools, among other things.

But the government, whether at the Centre or in the state, does not appreciate our efforts. All our pleas for help have fallen on deaf ears and there is no sign yet that they are interested in our and our employees welfare, Mr Gohain lamented.

The Statesman -India (12/12/2000)

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