Tripura Tea Mazdoor Sangh warns against palm oil cultivation in tea gardens, citing threats to tea production, workers’ livelihoods, and environmental balance, and signals legal action if authorities fail to intervene.
The Tripura Tea Mazdoor Sangh, with the support of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, has expressed deep concern over the increasing practice of cultivating palm oil, lemon, and betel nut within tea gardens across Tripura. Union leaders have warned that this shift threatens the long-term sustainability of the tea industry and endangers the livelihoods of thousands of tea workers dependent on it.
Addressing a press conference at the Agartala Press Club on Saturday, senior trade union representatives said that several tea estate owners have begun introducing alternative crops under the guise of diversification, without considering the ecological and economic consequences. According to the union, such decisions are being taken unilaterally, bypassing workers’ interests and established agricultural norms.
Shyamlendu Bikash Pal, All India Secretary of the Plantation Mazdoor Mahasangh, strongly criticized the move, stating that tea is a specialized plantation crop that requires carefully balanced sunlight, soil composition, and moisture levels. He argued that planting palm oil, lemon, and betel nut trees inside tea estates fundamentally disrupts this balance, making it impossible for tea plants to grow naturally.
Pal pointed out that tea estates such as Binodini, Fatikchara, Mahavir, Raydurlavpur, and Kalachhara have already initiated palm oil cultivation, while Meghli Para has reportedly introduced lemon and betel nut farming. He warned that these developments could permanently damage tea bushes, reduce yield, and compromise leaf quality, ultimately affecting Tripura’s reputation in the tea market.
Union leaders explained that palm oil and betel nut trees grow tall and wide, casting heavy shade over tea bushes. This excessive shading restricts sunlight exposure, while the deep roots of these trees absorb vital soil nutrients and moisture required by tea plants. Over time, this leads to declining productivity and financial losses for the gardens, which are often compensated by cutting workers’ wages, benefits, or employment opportunities.
The union also raised concerns about the broader economic impact, stating that the tea industry plays a crucial role in Tripura’s rural economy. Any decline in production would not only affect workers but also small traders, transporters, and local businesses linked to tea estates.
| Also Read: School of Science launches free STGT mock tests from January |
Senior leaders including Tadan Kumar Dey, Uttam Sarkar, Chandan Sutradhar, Haripada Nayak, and Ashish Kanti Ghosh were present at the press conference. They collectively demanded an immediate halt to non-tea cultivation within tea gardens and urged the state government to intervene.
The union warned that if authorities fail to act, they will seek legal intervention by approaching the High Court. Leaders also cautioned that continued neglect of workers’ concerns could trigger a larger statewide movement in defense of the tea industry and workers’ rights in the coming days.
