The move comes at a time when Tata Tea is exploring alternative revenue
streams. The company refused to comment on whether Patel's induction on the board was linked to the company's diversification plans.
Patel is a well-known professional in the field of dairy developement,
co-operatives, rural management, animal husbandry, ecology and environment.
Tata Tea was exploring alternate revenue streams for its North India
Plantations Operations (NIPO), which was likely to be more profitable than the company's tea business in Assam.
The company was experimenting multi-crop options in two north-eastern
estates, Borjan and Hatikuli and the two projects were christened "Natural Borjan" and "Natural Hatikuli".
Tata Tea has secured approvals for implementing the programmes in all its
estates. However, the company plans to refine the projects in the two
estates of Hatkuli and Borjan and then implement it across all its estates.
Among the non-agro options, the company was weighing fisheries as an
alternative revenue stream. The company has roped in consultancy company, Globally Managed Services to assess the prospects of the new business.