Tea Management

Undoubtedly, tea is one of the most refreshing and popular beverages of the world. India being the world's largest producer, exporter and consumer of tea, offers a wide scope for careers in the field of Tea management.

There is an array of jobs one can specialize in this field. It includes jobs from highly specialized field like tea tasting to subject-areas for researchers, plantation managers, tea brokers, consultants etc.

The tea industry involves tasks like plantation, processing, auctioning, branding, marketing and research with respect to tea and its better ways of marketing. Although computers are now used for blending varieties of tea, a tea taster’s judgment is still considered the ultimate analysis for determining the quality of tea. In India, the best of tea is grown in areas like Assam, Darjeeling and Nilgiris.

Of late, tea management has also surfaced as an important career option for aspirants with a love for tea management and greenery.

Eligibility

Though anybody who has a basic educational background can get into this field and gain knowledge of the skills required on the job, a degree in Agricultural Science or a B.Sc. in Botany, Food Sciences, Horticulture or allied fields is always handy and being preferred these days. Aspirants who have specialized in business management or marketing are given preference for marketing jobs.

Personal Attributes

Candidates opting for a career in the field must have a love and interest for outdoor life. He/she must be physically fit and adaptable. Leadership qualities and the ability to deal with laborers is an added asset for plantation/ factory managers. One must also have initiative, be knowledgeable about the tea market and be alert to varying market factors concerning tea industry. He/she should possess a reasonable knowledge about the topography and geographical location of the tea estate.

Job Prospects

As the demand for tea far exceeds its supply, so is the demand for personnel to handle it with professional expertise. Hands-on training is the best way to start and progress in this field. Tea associations and the Tea Board of India offer lucrative positions to the talented professionals.

An experienced tea planter can move into tea brokerage or tea tasting or can also take up a job in a tea broking house. Very senior professionals can diversify into becoming consultants offering advice on the varieties of tea to be planted, new varieties and their sources, recruitment and training of personnel, compensation, benefits and incentives to labour and so on.

Those academically inclined may get into research positions open at many tea plantations spread across the country. The Tea Research Association at Jorhat (Assam) is one organization where pioneering work is being done in the field of research.

Pay Package

Tea management, besides being a field most suited for nature lovers, offers good pay, attractive perks including a comfortable lifestyle. Generally, trainees get on an average, Rs. 7,000 while senior professionals draw Rs. 25,000 per month. Specialized professionals can earn anywhere in the range of 40,000- 50,000 per month.

Institutes/Universities

Assam Agricultural University
Contact Information
Department of Tea Husbandry and Technology
Jorhat, Assam
Phone : 0376-3340101/3340095/3340097/3340287/3340041
Fax : 0376-3340101
Website : www.aau.ac.in

Indian Institute of Plantation Management
Contact Information
Jnana Bharathi Campus, P.0 Malathalli,
Bangalore-560056,
Phone : 91-80-3211716,
Email : info@iipmb.edu.in
Website : www.iipmb.edu.in

Dipras Institute of Professional Studies
Contact Information
23/28 Gariahat Road,
Kolkata-700029,
Phone : 033-24600743/ 65458717
Website : www.dipsschoolofmanagement.com

The Tea Research Association (TRA), Calcutta
Contact Information
Tea Research Association 113, Park Street
9th Floor, Calcutta- 700016
Phone : (91)-(033-2291815) (91)-(033-2293813)
Fax : ( 91)-(033-2294279)
E-Mail : tratok@asm.nic.in

NITM, Darjeeling Tea Research and Management Association
Contact Information
P.O Kadamtala-734433
Dist. Darjeeling
West Bengal
Phone : 0353-2581582
Fax : 0353-2581593

Assam Darjeeling Tea Research Centre
Contact Information
Kurseong,
Darjeeling-734203(West Bengal),

UPASI Tea Research Institute
Contact Information
Nirar Dam BPO
Valparai-642127 (Tamil Nadu)

Birla Institute of Futuristic Studies
Contact Information
17A Darga Road, Park Circus,
Kolkata-700017.
Phone : 2281 - 2985, 9830076811
E-Mail : bifs2@hotmail.com
Website : www.bifsmgmt.com

The Tea Tasters Academy
Contact Information
Coonoor, Nilgiris (Kerala)


Management Institutes in Major Cities:

Delhi	Bangalore	Chennai
Hyderabad	Kolkata	Ahmedabad
Pune	Mumbai

Management institutes in various states:

Haryana	Himachal Pradesh	Jammu Kashmir
Punjab	Rajasthan	Uttaranchal
Andhra  Pradesh	Karnataka	Kerala
Pondicherry	Tamil Nadu	Bihar
Orissa	West Bengal	Gujarat
Maharastra	Meghalaya	Manipur
Sikkim	Chattisgarh	Jharkhand
Madhya Pradesh	Uttar Pradesh