From Leaf to Livelihood: Building a Sustainable Tea Ecosystem

International Tea Day 2025 

From Leaf to Livelihood: Building a Sustainable Tea Ecosystem 

On May 21st, as the world observed International Tea Day, Syngenta Foundation India (SFI) took a moment not just to celebrate tea, but to honour the people, partnerships, and progress behind every cup. 

Since 2019, through powerful collaborations with IDH, HUL, and Luxmi Estates, SFI has been working across Assam and North Bengal to uplift more than 40,000 Small Tea Growers (STGs). These interventions encompass safe production, income diversification, mechanization, and women-led enterprises, laying the groundwork for a more resilient, inclusive, and traceable tea value chain. 

This year, the celebration was marked through awareness meetings, community engagement, and storytelling, like that of Dipen Gogoi, an Agri-Entrepreneur from Madhuting Gaon, Dibrugarh, who transformed his tea garden into a thriving organic enterprise. 

Watch his journey:

Project Snapshots – May 2025 Activities 

1. Better Income Project (supported by IDH) 

The project spans across Assam and North Bengal, with over 691 STGs participating in farmer meetings that focused on soil testing, manuring, safe leaf handling, mushroom andchilli cultivation, SHG formation, and government schemes. 

Key Highlights: 

• One Input Shop officially Opening. 

• 2 new SHGs formed in Tinsukia & North Bengal 

• 158 STG children applied for Tea Board stipend scheme 

• 39 STGs initiated piggery units; 17 STGs started goat farming 

• 37 STGs ventured into poultry; 17 STGs began mushroom farming in Golaghat 

• Market linkages done with 1963 ____in paddy, potato, mushroom, kingchili, poultry, vegetables, and Tea in Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, and North Bengal.  

• Mechanical plucking exposure visits conducted in North Bengal 
  These activities showcased the program’s commitment to diversified incomes and improved agronomic practices. 

2. Living Income Project (supported by HUL-IDH) 

May witnessed 14 farmer meetings across 4 factory zones with 248 participants, including 69 women. Diversified livelihood practices took root through: 

• 9 STGs initiating king chilli cultivation 

• 25 STGs starting poultry units 

• 2 company poultry farms launched under Surya factory with 1400 chicks 

• 4 STGs adopting betel leaf plantations 

• 3 vaccination camps conducted in collaboration with the Veterinary Department 

• 142 STGs accessed market linkages through AE facilitation, with 2,145 kg of king chilli traded to markets. 

3. Luxmi Project (supported by Luxmi Estates) 

The Luxmi Project focused on on-field advisory, sustainable practices, and on-farm trials. 

Key Highlights 

• 251 STGs reached through IPM awareness 

• 12 farmer meetings and 1 AE-AEM coordination meeting conducted 

• 215 STGs involved in plucking demonstrations 

• 124 STGs supported with customized manuring plans 

• 3 STGs initiated on-farm diversification 
  Additionally, vermicomposting and ITK practices were adopted by select growers, moving towards sustainable and chemical-compliant tea production. 

Looking ahead, SFI and its partners remain committed to deepening impact through sustainable cultivation practices, diversified livelihoods and Market integration and enterprise development. Together, we are shaping a better future for India’s tea communities—from garden to global cup.