Tata Tea ready to diversify

Exploring options between agro-based, non-agro based and tourism projects.

Tata Tea may soon cease to be referred to as just a tea company if its pilot projects of agro-based and non-agro based businesses produce the desired results.

The company was in the process of reviewing alternative revenue streams for its plantations in the north-east and among the options being explored were agro-based business, and non-agro based and tourism projects.

At present, the company was piloting its agro-based business and had christened its projects "Natural Borjan" and "Natural Hatikuli" after its two estates in the northeast and was exploring multi-crop options in the land not being used for tea.

Speaking to Business Standard, Tata Tea managing director Percy Siganporia said, the company was evaluating different revenue streams for its plantations in the northeast, which could bring incremental income.

The company had roped in the consultancy company Globally Managed Services to assess the prospects of the new business. The northeast plantations of Tata Tea comprised four estates in Dooars and 20 estates in Assam.

Siganporia said, different options were being weighed for different estates. "What may work for one estate may not work for the other," he said.