Stressed tea estates want to use a portion of land for other purposes

Options like growing other crops and developing real estate projects are being explored

Faced with the spiralling cost of production and competition from bought-leaf factories (BLF), some estate holders are exploring the possibility of using a part of their land for activities other than growing tea.

The Indian Tea Association (ITA) has decided to appoint a consultant to study the alternatives for the large estate holders to contain falling profitability while retaining the existing labour force. Sources said possibilities like horticulture as well as building supermarkets, theatres and other commercial real estate projects were being thought of.

People belonging to the large tea estates said while they had to sustain a higher cost of production,