The humble chai, loved by crores and crores of South Asians worldwide, is getting a major policy push in India. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has now called for a new generation of “internationally competitive” tea varieties and smarter use of technology to protect both quality and farmer incomes.
Speaking at the National Conference on Safe Tea Production in New Delhi recently, he said India must move beyond its traditional strengths like Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiri to build “a wider catalogue of internationally marketable products” that match changing tastes and wellness trends worldwide.
Goyal stressed that India, already among the world’s largest tea producers and exporters, needs to combine its rich heritage with strict safety and sustainability standards to stay ahead.
He highlighted that sustainable farming, responsible labour practices and low pesticide residues are now non-negotiable for global buyers. “Government and industry must work as a team to ensure that every cup of Indian tea represents quality, heritage and trust,” he emphasised, linking the sector’s future to the broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Goyal doubled down on technology. The Minister urged researchers and young entrepreneurs to use tools like blockchain to create full traceability “from plucking and processing to packaging and export,” so that each batch can be tracked back to its exact origin and grade.
Such systems, he argued, can prevent mixing premium Indian teas with lower-quality or imported varieties and help farmers, especially small growers, get better prices. He also pushed for drip irrigation, weather- and pest-forecasting apps, and eco-friendly packaging to make estates more productive and climate-resilient.
At the event, Goyal pointed to a Rs 1,000‑crore support package for tea growers and workers and digital tools like the Chai Sahayog app, which helps small farmers realise better prices for green leaf.
He called for more skilling, mechanisation and improved opportunities for children in tea-growing regions, stressing that sectoral growth must go hand-in-hand with dignified lives in India’s hillside plantations. India is among the world’s largest tea producers and exporters, with nearly 255 million tonnes exported annually.
