Tamenglong, December 23 2009: With the aiming to produce a finest hilly orthodox tea in North East of India, the Tea Development Centre under Sangrungpang Development Society of Tamenglong District is trying hard their level best by spending lacks of rupees at the Tea Development Centre at Sangrungpang village some 21 kilometres away from Tamenglong District HQs and now the works are under progress.

Mass participants to uplift the economy of Zeliangrong communities from the grassroots level is also another aimed and objectives of the Tea Development Centre.

While disclosing this to Hueiyen Lanapao Aliangpou alias D.Johnson Guanmei, Project Manager of Pilot for Development of Tea Nursery at Sangrungpang here today said that many people talk about the goodness of tea leaves in Tamenglong district but nobody have try to tap the tea leaves potential and increase the economy.

The Tea Development Centre with the help from Tea Board from Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce, Govt.of India able to setup Development of Tea Nursery in one hector of land for tea nursery and expanse 200 hectors land for tea plantation in Tamenglong district in the first phase, Aliangpou said.

As many as 75 thousands sapling of tea plants with two varieties are getting ready for transplant in five hectors of land and at present the centre had spend more than four lakhs of rupees since July last year 2008.By 2015 the centre will be producing finest red tea leaves, he said.

Cut and Tear Crash, CTC tea leave have been over manufactured than demand from the State of Assam alone in Northeast and demand are not many.

However orthodox tea leaves are less manufactured and it is demanded by many people in the state as well as outside the state, the price also higher then of those CTC tea leave and the tea board also suggested to produce the orthodox tea, he said.

This centre did not using pesticide or chemical manure which will be effect the human being; instead by following biodynamic approach the centre will produce finest red tea leaves, he said.

The centre have two varieties of red tea plants like clones variety-TV14, TV19 and TV21 and seed variety like TS378, TS557, TS569 and local variety too.

The project target is to develop one hector of nursery and five demonstration tea farm, he said.

He also said that the Tea Board had given 25 percent grant in subsidy and the center is looking for help from State Government, NGOs and Social Organisers to make project a grant success to transform the economies of the people of Tamenglong, he said.

The Sangrungpang Development Society has another vision to construct one Olympic size swimming pool mainly for water reservoir for tea development centre as well as for villagers too.

After completion in Sangrungpang cluster the Tea Development Centre will be expanding the tea farm to other blocks of Tamenglong district, he said.

He went on to say that there are many existing tea farms in the villages of Tamenglong district.

As tea plantation is continued from the forefathers but trapping the tea potential for rising economy was never made, he said.

He also expressed deep regret over the frequent change of the Deputy Commissioner Tamenglong which delaying in the development works.

He also hoped that once the Tea Development Centre was completed here at this centre the tea board would be continued to help the tea farmers.

There are so many facilities to help the farmers, he said.

In the meantime, one old man Riukamang 60 of Sangrungpang village said that the project of tea development centre has just started and we are not getting much benefit but we are getting job or employment by working at the centre.

"We will stop jhuming cultivation as it is not profitable.

With the changing of times droughts, followed heavy rains and causing natural calamity of rodent menace the jhuming cultivation is not profitable, he said.

He also said that he will be focusing to plants more teas plantation, oranges and other citrus fruits to raise the income.

The main focus will be tea plantation and for which he had also deposit some amount of money too, he said.

Lungdimang Guanmei, chairman of the village authority while talking to media person said that the Sangrungpang villager will be focus on tea plantation as main source of income.

Many farmers of this present society lost their trust and interest in jhuming cultivation as jhuming cultivations are not profitable, he said.

Other then National Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes and Tea Development Works, there was no other developmental taken by the district administration as well as state government.

After working the year in non profitable jhuming cultivation the farmers earn their livelihood by selling of vegetables and woods in the town, he said.

Lacks of electricity and water supply is the main cause of undeveloped in the village.

The village chairman also appeal all concern authorities to help and develops the village.

It is worth mentioned that the challenges to set up Tea Development Centre was the followed up action of the seminar that held on November 2008 at Tamenglong under the theme Seminar on plantation.

Many development works like rubber farms, coffees and spices too can be taken as the land is still empty in plenty.

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