Tripura hosts first International Tea Day celebration; highlights importance of local auction hub

For the first time, Tripura marked International Tea Day with a grand celebration organized by the Tripura Tea Development Corporation Limited (TTDCL) at the Old Secretariat Complex in Agartala. The event was attended by TIDCL Chairman Samir Ranjan Ghosh, Agartala Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor Monika Das Dutta, and other dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering, Chairman Ghosh highlighted Tripura’s significant role in India’s tea industry, ranking fifth nationally in production with a heritage spanning over 110 years. He emphasized that tea is not only a daily ritual for millions but also a cultural and economic backbone for the state. Around 27,000–28,000 workers are directly engaged in Tripura’s tea sector.

A key announcement was the upcoming Gurkhabasti Tea Auction Centre in Agartala, which will make Tripura the eighth state in India to host a tea auction hub. Once operational, the centre will allow local producers to sell directly, eliminating the need to transport tea to Kolkata or Guwahati. This will reduce freight and warehousing costs, ensure competitive bidding that reflects the unique aroma of Tripura’s leaves, and shorten the sales cycle by up to 40%, freeing up working capital faster for planters and small growers. To encourage participation, TIDC will provide a transport subsidy of Rs 4 per kilogram to buyers.

Ghosh noted that the initiative would economically strengthen Tripura, shifting its identity to a recognized tea‑producing hub. He also outlined government schemes such as the Mukhyamantri Cha Sramik Unnayan Prakalp, which has uplifted tea workers by revising minimum daily wages to Rs 204 from Rs 176, providing land for housing, and enrolling families in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Workers have also received ration cards, LPG connections, and access to drinking water and electricity.

Ghosh added, "Through TIDC, the state has launched the Tripureswari Tea brand, opening new sales centres to stabilize markets and promote local production".

The celebration of International Tea Day in Tripura not only honored the state’s rich tea heritage but also signaled a new chapter of recognition, empowerment, and economic growth for its tea workers and industry.