By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: The Assam government has decided to include tea and plantation-class land in the Farmers’ Registry Portal, enabling small tea growers across the state to obtain Farmer IDs and avail themselves of government welfare schemes, agricultural services and easier access to institutional credit.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the inclusion of tea plantations in the digital registry will allow small tea growers to benefit from agricultural welfare schemes, institutional credit and other services through a single platform. While tea cultivation will continue to be administered by the Industry Department, growers will now also be able to avail themselves of benefits provided by the Agriculture Department.
The Chief Minister said the issuance of Farmer IDs is expected to streamline access to subsidised fertilisers, government assistance programmes and formal banking services. He added that the digital registration process would also help improve transparency and reduce dependence on intermediaries.
Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika said the move recognises the growing contribution of small tea growers, who now produce nearly half of Assam’s total tea output. He said integrating them into the Farmers’ Registry would ensure they receive the benefits and support available under various government initiatives.
The minister added that the government will undertake efforts to register all eligible small tea growers on the portal so they can receive Farmer IDs without delay.
According to Tea Board India, Assam had 1,33,864 small tea growers cultivating tea across 1,26,107.64 hectares as of March 31, 2025, underscoring the sector’s significant role in the state’s tea industry.