Tea planters in Bihar, which produces about 40-50 lakh kilograms of tea every year, seek more incentives from the state government to improve production. Most of the tea plantation in the state is taken-up in Kishanganj district by farmers who have proved that tea can be grown in the state's "arid and barren land". In Kishanganj alone, the farmers have planted tea spread over an area of 3000 acres of land.Though tea is not exported and is consumed in Bihar only, the planters wish that their produce "which is equivalent to Darjeeling tea in quality" can be exported to other countries, provided the state government shells out some concessions to the "unconventional" farmers in the Kishanganj area. Bihar's Tea Planters' Association president Chaggan Jalan said "If we are provided enough incentives we will be able to export tea to foreign countries."
On February 23, 1993, the then state chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, in a cabinet meeting, had announced that planters would be given help from the stategovernment. Since then, they are waiting for the state government to take some concrete steps in this regard.
Planters demand that tea plantation should be given benefits according to its `industry status'. Tea plantation has already been accorded the status of industry in the state. They also demand that the government should free plantation land from the Land Ceiling Act.
The planters want that the state government should also declare tea plantation as a non-conventional agricultural sector.
Tea plantation in Kishanganj was initially taken-up by Raj Karan Daftari in 1992, who left his conventional garment trading business to diversify into tea plantation.
Kishanganj's topography is similar to West Bengal's siliguri, which is known for its tea production.
Initially the investment in developing the 1000 areas of land suitable for tea growing amounted to Rs 6 crore, which included the cost for plant and machinery. Daftari had approached tea Board and Nabard for assistance for setting up the garden.He also had plans for equity participation and assistance from the Bihar Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation Ltd.
or Bihar Industrial Development Corporation. With initial problems, Daftari managed to make his dream come true and today the tea production in in Kishanganj alone amounts to 50 lakh kgs.
Daftari says his endeavour has brought out all-round development of the area and involved over 1.5 lakh workers.
"We also want the government to stop importing tea from other countries. We will fill the market deficit. At least give us the chance to do so," planters say.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
