Agartala, May 18 (TIWN): The government plans to utilize ‘barren land’ falls beyond barbed wire fencing along the Indo-Bangla border to promote small tea growers in a big way.

Around an area measuring 10,000 hectares has been fallen outside the fencing which could be used for tea cultivation, according to president of Tripura Small Tea Growers’ Association (TSTGA) Pabitra Kar.

“Since the tea bush doesn’t go beyond 9 metres, the BSF has no objection to raise tea nursery or tea plantation on the unused Indian plots outside the fencing. We will rigorous utilize these patches by way of tea cultivation”, said he.

Kar said the initial effort to raise tea nursery and tea cultivation outside the fencing prove beneficial at Bishalgarh, Rajnagar, Kamalpur and Sonamura. “Around 400 acres of land have been brought under the tea cultivation promoting small tea grower concept”, he said.

Besides, the government has already roped in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to provide rehabilitation to those who have got pattas under Forest Dwellers’ Right Act. Around 6000 hectares of land have been brought under the kitty of small tea growers giving much needed livelihood to 8000 small tea growers in the state.

“Small tea growers have been making good business as the tea peace is scaling up at the auction markets. In the days to come, small tea growers will be more beneficial”, he said.