Small-scale tea farming sustainability: A case study of Darjeeling hill region, India

Abstract

This study assesses the farming sustainability of the Small Tea Growers (STGs) in the Darjeeling hill region of India renowned for its high-quality tea production in which they had an important role. It is a comprehensive assessment encompassing environmental, economic, and social dimensions of tea farming sustainability using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to illuminate the intricate challenges faced by STGs (n ​= ​927) and also examines the interrelationships between these dimensions through the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) techniques and test of significance $\left(p\right)at0.05$ levels. The findings reveal that while environmental sustainability is moderate (0.48), economic sustainability (0.38) is a major challenge due to factors such as small land holdings (<10 ​ha) and limited farming experience. Social sustainability (0.54) displays village-level disparities, largely shaped by education, healthcare access, and participation in community decision-making. Overall, the Composite STGs Sustainability Index (CSTGSI) indicates that 79.71 ​% of STGs fall within the moderate sustainability (0.4–0.5) category reflecting a much better position compared to other tea-growing regions. The study emphasizes the need for tailored interventions to address specific village-level challenges and promote sustainable tea farming practices in the Darjeeling region.