Tea and Agro Studies

Department of Tea and Agro Studies1 Department of Tea and Agro Studies2

Profile

  1. Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, Assam proposes to set up a “Centre for Tea and Agro Studies” on its campus with effect from early 2007.
  2. The idea of the proposed Centre has evolved through a process of wider consultation with the industry of the state represented by personnel from prominent tea industries of this region.
  3. It goes without saying that the economy of the state depends primarily on tea apart from oil and the tea industry has for nearly two centuries now been contributing immensely to the economy as well its socio cultural life. In recent times, there has been significance expansion of this agro industry with small tea growers in the form of self help groups determining for themselves a very important role. The industry however, is being confronted with major challenges from strong competition in the global market and must in the near future be able to combine expansion with improved techniques for high yield and enhancement of quality, in order to be able to recover lost grounds and to open up new markets.
  4. In the circumstances, as mentioned in 3 above, this University, strategically situated among tea gardens all around it and with a tea garden of its own in the name and style of M/S Rajabheta Tea Company, needs to initiate and create facilities for teaching and research so that the industry can gain from qualified and motivated personnel taught and trained up by it.
  5. With this in mind, the University has farmed a syllabus in consultation with the industry regarding its real and urgent needs as well as long-term policies, with the intention of imparting education/training in the areas of tea technology and plantation management. While preparing the syllabus, it has been kept in mind that it would serve little purpose if the programmes that can be pursued in other Institutes are duplicated in this Centre. Therefore, the course/training programme has been designed to address areas hitherto not given significant attention by other Institutes imparting such courses..
  6. Research/instruction/training in the ‘Centre’ aims at fashioning out innovative as well as more production skills for (i) productivity management,(ii) quality management (iii) the vital aspect of community development in the interest of increased productivity and social justice.
  7. Practical training in the areas specified in 6 above is intended to be carried out taking the help of the University’s own as well as neighbouring Tea Industries. The programmes also require active participation by academic personnel from different disciplines now in existence at the University and other allied Institutes as well.
  8. The Centre has two major areas of focus: (i) teaching and (ii) research in collaboration with the industry, TRA, Tea Board of India, ABITA, ATPA, BCP and other tea related bodies.
  9. Initially sixteen students have been admitted for a one-year Post Graduate Diploma Course (consisting of two semesters) in Tea Technology and Plantation Management. The classes have been continuing smoothly from 4th September,2007 with the help of different experienced and senior faculties of the industry and few faculties from the University. In the said course, special emphasis has been put on field-oriented programmes. The minimum qualification for admission to the course is a Bachelor’s Degree in any stream.
  10. Research on the relevant areas will involve tea personnel, academics and the diploma/degree holders of this Centre and similar institutes. For enabling significant research, (2) the interests will be extended from tea to agro- studies in some other economically viable plant species, which tea gardens may take up as alternative crop/industry, with minimal investments, and with the organized resources only presently in existence.

Objective :

  1. To train and equip the students aspiring to join the tea industry
  2. To undertake studies and research to quality management/assessment
  3. Operational research on productivity related management
  4. Community development and studies/research related to same
  5. To create competent global resource for Indian tea industry and tea growing countries in order to meet industries’ training need
  6. To do collaborative research work with the tea industry (for placement, training, Research and policy inventions), TRA, Tea Board and other tea associations and
  7. Encourage candidates from other tea growing areas/countries for the course