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Empowering Small Tea Growers in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal

Shyamala Mandal, a determined Agri-Entrepreneur, is transforming the livelihoods of small tea growers (STGs) in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. Coming from a smallholder farming family, she faced limited income sources, lack of business guidance, and labor shortages in her village’s tea farms. Determined to overcome these challenges, she sought innovative ways to improve productivity and farm earnings.

In March 2021, Shyamala joined the Agri-Entrepreneurship training program, supported by the Small Tea Grower Sustainable Program (STGSP). She recognized that traditional tea farming methods were inefficient, and market access was limited. To address these issues, she secured a ₹25,000 loan to invest in a mechanized plucking machine, launching a rental service for farm machinery to help small tea growers improve their harvest efficiency.

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  • 150+ STGs registered, addressing key farming challenges.
  • Income growth from ₹1,61,800 to ₹5,26,500 annually.
  • Farm machinery services, including rental mechanized harvesters and irrigation equipment.
  • Established market linkages, ensuring better prices for tea green leaf production. By tackling limited income opportunities, mechanization gaps, and market challenges, Shyamala has elevated the green leaf quality and earnings of STGs. Her journey exemplifies women-led rural entrepreneurship, setting a blueprint for sustainable agricultural growth.

Understanding the market access gap, she facilitated a direct agreement with a local tea factory, ensuring premium prices for high-quality green leaf production. Additionally, she introduced irrigation services, and rented out equipment to STGs during winter droughts, which significantly boosted productivity and increased her income by 53%.

Shyamala Mandal