OTSM

The objective of the One Tea Scheme is to ensure a minimum guaranteed price for fresh tea leaves to protect tea farmers from financial losses and provide economic stability. It also aims to support bought-leaf factories and promote sustainable tea cultivation in Meghalaya.

The One Tea Scheme, implemented by the Planning, Investment Promotion & Sustainable Development Department, Government of Meghalaya, is designed to support tea farmers in the state whose livelihoods have been affected by declining factory gate prices and shrinking cultivated areas. The initiative introduces a single-season price support mechanism that guarantees every registered grower a minimum price of ₹35 per kilogram of fresh tea leaves for conventional tea gardens and ₹40 per kilogram for organically certified tea gardens. By compensating the difference between the factory’s actual purchase price and the guaranteed minimum price, the scheme prevents farmers from being forced to sell their produce at a loss.

This support helps ensure fair price realization, provides economic stability for farmers to reinvest in their plantations, and contributes to the preservation of ecological services and traditional knowledge associated with tea cultivation. In addition, the scheme offers a one-time financial benefit to bought-leaf factories to cover the gap between the price they pay for fresh green leaves from both small and large tea growers and the price at which they can profitably process and sell the manufactured tea.

• The applicant should be 18 years of age or above.
• The applicant should be a permanent resident of Meghalaya.
• The applicant should be a tea farmer.
• The applicant should possess a valid government-issued identity document.

• Ensures fair and stable prices for tea farmers.
• Prevents distress sales due to low factory rates.
• Provides direct financial support via DBT.
• Farmers receive ₹35/kg and ₹40/kg support price.
• Government pays the difference if factory rate is <semi_colon ₹35/kg and <semi_colon ₹40/kg.
• Supports up to 10,000 kgs per farmer.
• Encourages organic cultivation, using ₹40/kg as reference.
• Targets 1,000 financially distressed tea farmers
• Provide one time support to bought leaf factories