The District Administration, Wokha, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Plantation Management - Bengaluru (IIPMB) and Tea Board of India, successfully organized a technical workshop on “Marketing Strategies and Business Opportunities for Tea Growers” at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall, Wokha on 2nd September 2025.
The workshop was part of a three-day capacity-building program held from September 1 to 3, 2025, aimed at empowering tea growers across Wokha District. Sessions focused on tea cultivation, plantation management, marketing strategies, entrepreneurship development, and strengthening the tea value chain to enhance livelihood opportunities.
In his inaugural address, Deputy Commissioner Wokha, Vineet Kumar, IAS encouraged participants to make full use of the workshop and apply the insights gained for future planning. He emphasized the potential of scientific and sustainable plantation practices, organic tea branding and certification, and localized processing and marketing linkages. He appealed to IIPMB to consider adopting Wokha’s small tea growers as a special institutional case, citing their organic practices and unique tea quality. He also stressed the importance of testing and certifying Wokha tea and developing a long-term vision to position the district as a recognized tea-growing region.
The workshop featured expert sessions by faculty members from IIPMB Bengaluru and Jorhat, as well as Mariani College, Assam. The program was chaired by Project Manager & Skill Development (I/C), District Administration, Wokha, Anuranjan Singh.
Professor & Director (I/C), IIPMB Bengaluru, John Mano Raj expressed concern over the underutilization of Wokha’s well-maintained tea plantations and the absence of systematic plantation management. He advocated for market-centric cultivation and encouraged growers to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset to strengthen tea value chains.
Associate Professor, IIPMB Bengaluru, Dr. K. Narendran presented strategies on tea processing, value addition, and the scalability of Wokha tea with minimal intervention. He recommended connecting Wokha tea to specialty and organic markets through proper branding and certification.
Assistant Professor, Mariani College, Jorhat, Dr. Raj Kumar Gohain Baruah highlighted the sustainability of tea plantation practices in Wokha, noting that most plantations are pest- and disease-free - an advantage for organic farming.
As a follow-up, a group of progressive tea growers from Wokha will be selected for an exposure visit and hands-on training at the Livelihood Business Incubation (LBI) Centre, IIPMB, Jorhat. The centre specializes in agri-entrepreneurship, processing techniques, and business incubation for plantation-based value chains. Sessions at the Jorhat centre will be conducted by Assistant Professor, IIPMB Jorhat, Ankur Gogoi, focusing on tea processing and value addition.
Faculty teams from IIPMB and Mariani College also visited tea plantations across Wokha District, including those managed by members of the Wokha District Small Tea Growers' Association (WDSTGA). They interacted directly with farmers, assessed cultivation practices, and identified potential for cluster-based interventions and cooperative processing units.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Project Manager, District Administration, Wokha, Anuranjan Singh emphasized the importance of starting small and utilizing available government schemes and institutional support. He encouraged participants to leverage the expertise shared during the workshop and treat the event as a foundational step toward building a robust and self-reliant tea ecosystem in Wokha. He also expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their active participation and reaffirmed the District Administration’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship, market access, and quality certification in the tea sector.
This initiative marks a significant stride toward positioning Wokha tea as a premium organic product with institutional backing. Through expert guidance, field exposure, and business incubation, the District Administration aims to foster a resilient, market-driven tea ecosystem that empowers local growers and establishes Wokha as a distinctive tea destination in Nagaland.
(DPRO and IA, Wokha)
