A state-level convention of Rural Women Entrepreneurs, titled A Celebration of Robust Rural Women Entrepreneurship in the Tea Value Chain, was held on Thursday at the Moniram Langneh Auditorium in Deithor, Karbi Anglong. The one-day programme brought together nearly 500 rural women entrepreneurs involved in chemical-free artisanal green tea production from the Nilip, Bokajan and Rongmongve blocks.
The convention was organised by Transform Trade and Grassroot Tea Corporation, with the stated objective of recognising achievements, facilitating knowledge-sharing and strengthening market-oriented entrepreneurship among women working across the tea value chain.
The programme began with traditional cultural performances, followed by a session explaining the artisanal green tea-making process. Speakers highlighted women-led innovation and the role of producer collectives in improving quality, production methods and marketing outcomes. A memento was presented to Tilottama Hansu in recognition of women managing household responsibilities alongside entrepreneurial activities.
Several Rural Women Entrepreneurs shared their experiences within the tea value chain, referring to practices such as regenerative agriculture, the use of improved tea dryers, community-based processing units and artisanal tea-making techniques. They also discussed the economic impact of moving from raw leaf sales to the production of premium Karbi artisanal green tea.
A panel discussion included representatives from NABARD, ASRLM, the Small Tea Grower Association, SELCO and the Karbi Anglong district administration. The discussion focused on coordination and collaboration to strengthen Assam’s tea sector.
Additional sessions featured representatives from the Tea Board of India, Digital Empowerment Foundation, Grameen Sahara, The Goat Trust, Vrutti and SwitchON Foundation. These sessions addressed government schemes, digital literacy, market access, diversified livelihood options and sustainable enterprise development.
According to organisers, key outcomes of the convention included greater awareness of marketing opportunities and government support mechanisms, recognition of women-led enterprises, discussions on balancing family and business responsibilities, collective branding efforts and alignment with State Rural Livelihoods Mission and government ecosystems.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Priya from Grassroot Tea Corporation, who reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting the scale-up of women-led tea enterprises in Assam.
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