Englepathar, Assam – March 2, 2025: For years, Mina Tokbipi grew tea in her backyard in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, hand-processing it only for family consumption. However, a significant intervention in 2020 by biodiversity organization Aaranyak has transformed her life, introducing her to a branded market for her product and providing her with a fairer income.
Tokbipi recalled how, for years, her family sold surplus tea to middlemen at meager prices. The story took a turn for the better when Aaranyak introduced a new business model designed to ensure fair prices for tea growers in the region.
Changing the Game for Small-Scale Farmers
Firoz Ahmed, a scientist heading the livelihoods programme at Aaranyak, explained that the organization discovered small-scale farmers were being exploited by middlemen, receiving minimal compensation for their hard work. “Most locally produced products, including tea, were sold at throwaway prices, and the locals often received little for their labor,” Ahmed said.
The NGO’s solution was to focus on women in the region who were already skilled in handcrafted tea production. Recognizing the growing market for high-quality, hand-rolled tea, the organization sought to provide fair compensation by branding and marketing the product.
In 2020, Aaranyak began training women from 10 villages. However, as of now, only four women from three villages—Englepathar, Rongtara, and Bakrung Engti—have continued the practice, said Jayanta Kumar Roy, an official monitoring the programme.
The Challenges of Handcrafted Tea Production
Producing handcrafted tea is no easy feat. Unlike machine-made teas, which are consistent and mass-produced, handcrafted tea requires skill, patience, and dedication. Each batch is unique, adding to the product’s appeal. "The process involves picking tender leaves, heating them to prevent oxidation, hand-rolling for drying, and finally crushing the leaves using traditional Karbi tools," Tokbipi explained.
Quality control also remains a challenge, as no two batches of handcrafted tea are exactly the same. Moreover, the process is time-consuming, and many women, burdened with household chores, were initially hesitant to take it up. However, after seeing the successful earnings of the four women leading the project, others have begun to express interest.
Tokbipi, who was part of the first training batch, is now training more women in her village, hoping to expand the initiative. Fellow tea grower Sika Terangpi also shared that many women, who were previously uninterested, are now eager to join after seeing the financial benefits of handcrafted tea production.
A Growing Niche Market for Handcrafted Tea
The handcrafted tea produced by Tokbipi and other women is now being sold under the brand name "Pirbi" through a store established by Aaranyak. Despite machine-made tea’s dominance in the market due to its efficiency and large-scale production, handcrafted tea is gaining recognition for its exceptional flavor and high quality.
Bidyananda Barkakoty, an advisor with the North East Tea Association (NETA), praised the intricate and labor-intensive process of making handcrafted tea. “The preparation involves several stages, including plucking, heating, hand-rolling, and crushing. It’s an art form requiring skill and dedication,” Barkakoty said.
While handcrafted tea remains a niche product, it is growing in popularity both in domestic and international markets. However, challenges remain, particularly in the marketing and distribution of such small quantities. According to Barkakoty, there are no authentic data on handcrafted tea production, but a conservative estimate suggests that there are fewer than 50 small-scale units in Assam, producing no more than 200,000 kg annually.
Future Growth and Potential
There is potential for handcrafted tea to become a significant cottage industry that could bolster rural economies in Assam. However, one of the key challenges is the marketing and aggregation of the product. "The solution lies in forming clusters of small units to ensure a steady supply of quality products and improve the marketability," Barkakoty added.
As more women like Tokbipi join the movement, the hope is that the handcrafted tea industry in Assam will not only grow but will empower local women, ensuring they receive a fair price for their labor and offering a sustainable livelihood for their families.
Tokbipi recalled how, for years, her family sold surplus tea to middlemen at meager prices. The story took a turn for the better when Aaranyak introduced a new business model designed to ensure fair prices for tea growers in the region.
Changing the Game for Small-Scale Farmers
Firoz Ahmed, a scientist heading the livelihoods programme at Aaranyak, explained that the organization discovered small-scale farmers were being exploited by middlemen, receiving minimal compensation for their hard work. “Most locally produced products, including tea, were sold at throwaway prices, and the locals often received little for their labor,” Ahmed said.
The NGO’s solution was to focus on women in the region who were already skilled in handcrafted tea production. Recognizing the growing market for high-quality, hand-rolled tea, the organization sought to provide fair compensation by branding and marketing the product.
In 2020, Aaranyak began training women from 10 villages. However, as of now, only four women from three villages—Englepathar, Rongtara, and Bakrung Engti—have continued the practice, said Jayanta Kumar Roy, an official monitoring the programme.
The Challenges of Handcrafted Tea Production
Producing handcrafted tea is no easy feat. Unlike machine-made teas, which are consistent and mass-produced, handcrafted tea requires skill, patience, and dedication. Each batch is unique, adding to the product’s appeal. "The process involves picking tender leaves, heating them to prevent oxidation, hand-rolling for drying, and finally crushing the leaves using traditional Karbi tools," Tokbipi explained.
Quality control also remains a challenge, as no two batches of handcrafted tea are exactly the same. Moreover, the process is time-consuming, and many women, burdened with household chores, were initially hesitant to take it up. However, after seeing the successful earnings of the four women leading the project, others have begun to express interest.
Tokbipi, who was part of the first training batch, is now training more women in her village, hoping to expand the initiative. Fellow tea grower Sika Terangpi also shared that many women, who were previously uninterested, are now eager to join after seeing the financial benefits of handcrafted tea production.
A Growing Niche Market for Handcrafted Tea
The handcrafted tea produced by Tokbipi and other women is now being sold under the brand name "Pirbi" through a store established by Aaranyak. Despite machine-made tea’s dominance in the market due to its efficiency and large-scale production, handcrafted tea is gaining recognition for its exceptional flavor and high quality.
Bidyananda Barkakoty, an advisor with the North East Tea Association (NETA), praised the intricate and labor-intensive process of making handcrafted tea. “The preparation involves several stages, including plucking, heating, hand-rolling, and crushing. It’s an art form requiring skill and dedication,” Barkakoty said.
While handcrafted tea remains a niche product, it is growing in popularity both in domestic and international markets. However, challenges remain, particularly in the marketing and distribution of such small quantities. According to Barkakoty, there are no authentic data on handcrafted tea production, but a conservative estimate suggests that there are fewer than 50 small-scale units in Assam, producing no more than 200,000 kg annually.
Future Growth and Potential
There is potential for handcrafted tea to become a significant cottage industry that could bolster rural economies in Assam. However, one of the key challenges is the marketing and aggregation of the product. "The solution lies in forming clusters of small units to ensure a steady supply of quality products and improve the marketability," Barkakoty added.
As more women like Tokbipi join the movement, the hope is that the handcrafted tea industry in Assam will not only grow but will empower local women, ensuring they receive a fair price for their labor and offering a sustainable livelihood for their families.
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