Baseline and Need Assessment Study with Small Tea Growers in Assam

The Sustainable Trade Initiatives, IDH, ASSAM

Project Under Domains: Nature-based Solutions; Sub Domains: Co-creating sustainable solutions

Assam, India’s top tea producer, contributes 50% of the country’s tea and 1/6th of global production. Small tea growers (STGs) emerged in the late 1970s, now totalling 1.22 lakh, responsible for 52% of Assam’s 2021-22 tea output. Most own less than 2 acres, with over 50% in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, driven by factors such as available land, favourable climate, technology, labour, and market access. Despite the importance of tea, price fluctuations pose income risks. The IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative collaborates with Unilever and Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) to enhance STG incomes, promote sustainability, and diversify income sources. Ecociate conducted a baseline study to assess actual and potential STG’s income for project KPIs.

Objectives

The study’s key goals involve conducting a baseline study for 1000 small tea growers connected to four BLFs and HUL’s supply chain in Assam’s Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts. It aims to establish baseline values for Key Performance Indicators, evaluate actual and feasible income based on primary data, assess the project role of the STGSP platform, and provide recommendations.

Approach and Methodology

Ecociate employed a mixed-method approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods, to conduct the study in the tea sector. Data was gathered from small tea growers (STGs), industry experts, traders, and other relevant ecosystem players in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, complemented by comprehensive secondary research. Online consultations with tea sector experts were also conducted to efficiently deliver project outcomes.

Quantitative surveys targeted 400 households of small tea farmers linked to four bought-leaf factories. Additionally, qualitative data collection involved focus group discussions with STGs to gain a deeper understanding of their practices and the ecosystem. This also included exploring the reasons and logic behind the practices they either followed or did not follow. In-depth interviews were conducted with industry stakeholders, market players, and government officials to gather insights on the package of practices for both farm and non-farm activities, government schemes and welfare programs for small tea farmers, the nature of support provided to STGs, special programs aimed at increasing STGs’ income, convergence opportunities, and opportunities for income diversification for small tea farmers.

Results

The study established baseline data for small tea growers in Assam’s Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts, who are connected to four BLFs and HUL’s supply chain. It defined Key Performance Indicators, assessed actual and potential income based on primary data, and provided actionable recommendations to enhance the livelihoods and sustainability of small tea growers. Furthermore, the study assisted IDH and HUL in gaining insights into the livelihood patterns, tea cultivation practices, challenges, cultivation costs, and actual and feasible income sources of small tea growers.