Historical Background of the Tea Industry in Assam

Plantations are most systematic system of the production in the agricultural sector. It is noted that the most organized industry in India is tea plantation industry. Moreover, the British colonial government gave a serious attention to development of this industry. It is an agro-based labour-intensive industry. The plantation of tea cultivation had begun by the British planters in Assam. Moreover, Assam covers approximately 51 percent of the total land devoted to tea plantation in India. Hence, Assam produces around 55 percent of the country’s total production of tea, which is considered as the backbone of the Indian economy system. Therefore, this research paper attempts to highlight the historical background of the development of tea industry and migration of tea labourers into Assam.