HUL’s ‘Tea Next 2.0’ Empowers Assam’s Small Tea Growers with Sustainable Farming Practices

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) recently hosted “Tea Next 2.0” in Golaghat, Assam, bringing together 256 small tea growers (STGs) and Bought Leaf Factory (BLF) representatives to promote long-term sustainability in the region’s tea industry. Organized in collaboration with the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) and the Trustea Sustainable Tea Foundation, the initiative focused on three primary pillars: improving green leaf quality, ensuring regulatory compliance regarding pesticide residues (MRLs), and implementing regenerative agriculture. By providing practical training on pruning, integrated pest management, and soil health, the program aims to help smallholders meet evolving global quality standards while building climate resilience at the farm level.

The event featured insights from industry leaders and government officials, including the Tea Board of India, who emphasized the critical role small tea growers play in the national value chain. Highlighting the move toward non-chemical pest control and “Good Agricultural Practices,” HUL reiterated its commitment to responsible sourcing and inclusive growth. To further encourage excellence, the session concluded with the felicitation of thirty progressive tea growers for their outstanding production of premium-quality green leaf, reinforcing a collaborative approach to overcoming systemic challenges within the North Eastern tea ecosystem.