Guwahati, Jan 31: The Tea Board of India has officially set February 10, 2025, as the starting date for plucking and receiving green leaves for tea manufacturing across the Northeastern states—Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Manipur.
According to a directive issued by the Executive Director and Registering Authority, North Eastern Zone, tea gardens that follow alternative pruning or cultivation methods, along with producers of orthodox, green, and speciality teas, may seek exemptions from the respective Tea Board offices.
The directive specifies that Assistant Directors of Tea Development are authorized to recommend exemptions after field verification. Factors such as pruning techniques, irrigation facilities, early rainfall, and flushing patterns will be considered before granting exemptions. Approved exemptions must be communicated to the Tea Board’s Head Office for record-keeping.
The 2025 timeline has been established based on feedback from industry stakeholders and scientific institutions, ensuring alignment with the natural cropping cycle. The Tea Board aims to maintain quality, sustainability, and uniformity in tea production while balancing traditional and modern cultivation practices.
