Published Paper Details:

Growth of small tea gardens initiated during the last part of the 20th century is considered as a turning point for the traditional agricultural economy of Assam towards commercial farming. Small scale tea farming also appeared to open up new doors for a few other commercial agricultures and allied agricultural activities that characterized the rural economic landscape of Assam at the onset of the present century. It is observed that the small-scale tea gardens, which presented a sharp growth rate contributing significantly to income and employment generation in rural areas present a sluggish growth rate after the year 2010. Such a growth recession of the small tea gardens appears to impact adversely the economic growth momentum achieved by the small and medium tea farmers of Assam. Sharp regional and seasonal variation in prices of green tea leaves produced by the small-scale tea growers and rise in their production cost leads to recession of both the growth and expansion of small scall tea gardens in the study area as against a spurt in the growth of allied agricultural activities. Absence of any secured pricing system for the products of the small tea gardens is likely to make this vibrant sector of rural economic growth a retrograded sector of commercial agriculture of Assam. The present work intends to analyzed the causes of growth recession of small-scale tea gardens and its impact on the rural economy of Assam; considering Sonitpur district as a representative areal unit of study.