The Tea Board has launched a revolutionary subsidy scheme to help small growers construct mini and micro factories. “This new scheme offers 40 per cent subsidy of actual cost of plant and machinery.
On an investment of Rs 60 lakh for a mini tea factory, the Board’s subsidy will be Rs 25 lakh.
Banks have come forward to offer loan without security for the balance Rs 35 lakh”, Tea Board member and President of Small Tea Growers’ Association of Southern India (STASI) S. Ramu told
“When growers process their green leaves in their own factories, they will get at least Rs 5 a kg more for their green leaf. We expect an assured average return of Rs 25 a kg for green leaf. Besides, the margin in factory operation will remain with them. So, it is possible to take back the investment in less than three years. STASI will guide the growers in forming the factories”, Ramu said.
“These new factories will be exempt from the purview of the Tea Marketing Control Order. Those producing 22.5-225 kg made tea daily will be treated as micro and mini factories. It will be a boon to the two lakh small growers including one lakh in the South”, Tea Board’s Vice-Chairman Koshy Baby, who is also Vice-Chairman of STASI, said.