TAI Flags Risks in Tea Land Patta Plan, Price Slump and Subsidy Delays

Tea Association of India president Sandeep Singhania said most tea garden land is mortgaged to banks, warning that land transfers for pattas could trigger legal and financial issues unless concerns are addressed by Assam and West Bengal. He stressed that managements must be compensated for company-built assets and remain responsible for worker housing under existing central laws, even after land transfer.

Singhania also highlighted falling tea prices, noting an all-India drop of about 6% in 2025, with sharper declines of around 8% in Assam and Bengal due to rising costs without matching farmgate prices. He further expressed concern over delays in subsidy disbursement under Assam’s ATISIS 2020, saying the new rule barring carry-forward of payments has left eligible producers without benefits.