Small tea growers of Assam on Thursday launched their first branded packet tea here.

State industries and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary launched two handmade tea brands — Asomiya Red and Asomiya Green — in the presence of a number of members of the Axom Xhudra Chah Khetiyak Unnayan Samabai Samiti.

The Samiti is planning to source quality, chemical-free tea from more than 500 small growers to cater to the market in the state, before taking the brands to the rest of the country and beyond.

Patowary promised to support the tea growers, while making budgetary provisions for research at Tocklai Tea Research Station. He also said the GI tag for Assam tea will be accorded within this year. “Assam tea needs branding and good quality. It should dominate the global tea market like before,” he said.

Earlier, social activist Adip Phukan said, “This is a landmark moment as it is the first time tea is being branded Asomiya. Small tea growers have gone through lots of trials and tribulations. Big companies did not introduce any innovations for a long time. They say the unorganised sector is causing problems and the government accepts it. It was the small growers that introduced organic tea. Now that they have a trademark, the concern should be on maintaining quality.”

Samiti president Hemanta Gohain said, “We have come a long way since small tea growers started cultivation in the late 70s. Now, more than 15 lakh people are employed in this sector. We produce more than the big companies, around 52 per cent of the total production. There are 45,000 to 50,000 small growers in Tinsukia district alone, doing business of around Rs 985 crore. By bringing packaged tea into the market, we aim to provide people with a healthy option produced without chemicals.”

The Samiti felicitated a number of small growers for their contribution to the industry.