Impact of small tea plantations (stp) on socio-economic condition of tea growers in rajganj block of jalpaiguri district, West Bengal

Tea, esteemed as the "National Drink," holds profound cultural and economic importance globally. Countries including China, India, Kenya, and Sri Lanka have longstanding traditions of tea cultivation. In India, tea plantations have flourished across 16 states since 1835, particularly in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. The recent rise of Small Tea Plantations (STPs) and Small Tea Growers (STGs) in India, notably since the 1990s, represents a significant trend. STGs, characterized as cultivators with plantations up to 10.12 hectares and no tea factory, have notably transformed Bengal's agricultural landscape, particularly evident in North Bengal's Rajganj block, where pineapple fields have transitioned into tea gardens, catalyzing substantial socio-economic change. Tea cultivation serves as a stable source of employment and income for small and marginal farmers. Socio-economic indicators like literacy rates, income distribution, and occupational structures have experienced notable shifts before and after 2005, suggesting positive trends in educational engagement and economic advancement. The study aims to investigate the drivers behind the rapid expansion of small tea plantations and their socio-economic impacts on growers in Rajganj block of Jalpaiguri district. Total210samples have been randomly selected from five G. P. for interview in order to avoid the bias of primary data. The collected data has been processed and analyzed by suitable statistical and cartographic techniques, table and diagrams. Q-GIS software’s have been used to show the necessary maps. The small tea cultivation could pave the way for sustainable growth and rural industrialization, particularly in regions like Rajganj block, contributing significantly to socio-economic development.