Economics of Small Tea Farming System (STFS): An in-depth Study of North Bengal,India

Abstract

The study was conducted to find out the pattern of labour engagement (both family andhired labour), price realization of different type of small tea growers and economic analysisof the small tea growing system. Small tea growers of Jalpaiguri and Uttar Dinajpur districtof West Bengal were selected purposively. The present study mainly considered primarydata for analysis and a small amount of secondary data was also collected from records ofConfederation of Indian Small Tea Growers’ Association (CISTA) and Self-Help Group(SHG) registers. It has been found that there is a variation in price of green leaves in bothdistricts and higher rates are observed in the month of March. SHGs with own processingunits were found to fetch higher prices compared to other units because of their collectivebargaining power, absence of middlemen and owing co-operative processing units. Numberof such SHGs, with processing units were found in Jalpaiguri district whereas, UttarDinajpur district recorded no SHG with own processing units. The economic analysis alsopresented a clear picture about fixed and operational cost, gross return with or withoutdividend and benefit cost ratio.

Scope of Collective Bargaining Process in the Small Tea Garden – A Study with Special Reference to Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal

“…Small tea-producing techniques have been adopted by tea pluckers in the study districts as a cost-effective alternative to traditional agricultural systems. Because it necessitates a large number of man-days throughout the year, this tea-growing technique has been discovered to be capable of creating significant employment opportunities (Panda et al, 2022). If the Tea Boards of India and other intervening institutions provide training in the establishment of co-operatives or community processing units, as well as spreading awareness about the quality parameters of green leaves, it could be a highly viable enterprise among the farm families of Jalpaiguri.…”

“…Suppose the Tea Boards of India and other intervening institutions provide training in the establishment of cooperatives or community processing units, as well as spreading awareness about the quality parameters of green leaves. In that case, it could be a highly viable enterprise among the farm families of North Bengal (Panda et al, 2022).…”

Multivariate Typology of Osmanabadi Goat Farming in its Home Tract: A Cluster Analysis

“…Livestock technology use may vary among farm households because of differences in socioeconomic characteristics (Somda et al, 2005;Milan et al, 2006). Smallholder farming systems are highly complex and heterogeneous in their characteristics (Pal et al, 2017;Kumar et al, 2019;Panda et al, 2022). The productivity and profitability of the existing goat rearing system need to be improved substantially by harnessing the potential of goat rearing activity.…”