Tea cultivation by the smallholders in hilly parts of Uttarakhand in north India: Ecological and socio-economic considerations

Abstract

Tea cultivation and processing was a well-established industry during the British period in the mountains of Uttarakhand State in northern India. Tea gardens, however, gradually got abandoned and even vanished for various reasons, with the departure of British. The Government of Uttarakhand initiated concerted efforts in 1995 to revive the tea industry with a view to generate employment and income for the locals. Many of the abandoned tea gardens were revived, as well as uncultivated community and private lands were brought under new tea plantations. This has generated enthusiasm among the locals, and the primary survey carried out with 168 small tea growers (STGs) of the region has revealed that this shiftfi-om small scale agriculture and animal husbandry to cash crop (tea) based livelihood has helped the marginal farmers, including women to improve their social status. Otherwise non-cultivable wastelands and abandoned croplands, now under tea plantations, are providing employment opportunities as well as additional income. Ecological considerations of tea cultivation are suggestive of following a cautious approach, since this involves the practice of monoculture on relatively large parcels of land. Further, it needs to be emphasized that the lessons learnt in the past (problems associated with the British tea industry in the region), as well as making the cultivation of tea more cost effective, should be adequately addressed to make this expanding activity sustainable, environment-friendly and socio-economically sound. Efforts are also needed to encourage organic farming of tea, improving quality and yield of tea using clones suitable for the agro-climatic zones, keeping in mind that the region experiences seasonally dry climate. It is felt that tea plantations should be encouraged keeping the above considerations in view and with a focus on STGs.