GUWAHATI, Oct 29 - Making the tea growers, in its surrounding in a radius of 20 km, aware on the Plant Protection Code norms, a bought leaf tea factory in Golaghat district of the State has been able to achieve the target of zero pesticide residues in the tea it is manufacturing. This is considered to be a significant development.
According to Pranab Kumar Sarma, a former superintending manager of the Tezpore Tea Company Ltd and a field expert of the Ministry of Urban Development sponsored Centre of Excellence Project � Integrated Land Use Planning and Water Resource Development � run by the Civil Engineering Department of IIT Guwahati, awareness programmes were launched by the bought leaf tea factory Sanjiv Tea Industry (P) Ltd, a bought leaf Tea factory situated at Dhuliagaon, Morongi under Golaghat district. Around 1200 small tea growers and big tea growers were trained for the purpose. Sarma acted as the resource person during the awareness programmes.
He said that the Tea Board of India has advised the tea factories to collect green leaves from the growers who follow Plant Protection Code norms specified by the Tea Board of India.
The Tea Board of India took the initiative to implement the Plant Protection Code in the tea fields. Last year Tea Board of India sponsored 25 awareness programmes in Golaghat District and the Small Tea Growers� Association, Golaghat identified the self-help groups for training. Rajiv Gohain, Secretary, Small Tea Growers� Association, Golaghat attended all awareness programmes, along with other office bearers of the Association, besides the Tea Board officials.
Sarma further stated that MGVK Bhanu, former Chairman, Tea Board of India and Rakesh Saini, former Executive Director, NE region, Tea Board of India took special interest to implement the Plant Protection Code. At present, Dipankar Mukherjee, Executive Director of Tea Board of India NE Region and all officials of Tea Board are in constant touch with the growers.
