Farmers' body demands Rs 33 MSP for green tea leaves, demands dedicated tea ministry in Assam

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), affiliated with the Communist Party of India (CPI), has urged the Assam government to fix a minimum support price for green tea leaves and to establish a dedicated Tea Ministry to safeguard the interests of small tea growers.

Addressing a press conference in Ledo, Margherita, AIKS Assam State Council Assistant Secretary Sanjeev Gangooli said that the BJP-led government must take immediate steps to ensure fair pricing and long-term sustainability of the small tea growers’ sector.

The AIKS has put forward several key demands, including the enactment of a law and formulation of a clear policy for the tea industry, stopping the import of cheap tea from abroad, and constituting a Special Task Force to prevent blending and protect the standards of the GI tag for Assam Tea.

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The organisation has also demanded that the government fix a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 33 per kg for green tea leaves and ensure the supply of fertilisers, pesticides, and other agricultural inputs at affordable prices. In addition, AIKS called for regular awareness and training programmes for small growers to enhance the quality of green leaf production.

Extending solidarity to farmers affected by African Swine Fever (ASF), the AIKS further demanded compensation of ₹15,000 for each pig that died due to the outbreak, urging the government to address the crisis faced by pig rearers in the state.