Social and technological innovations for quality improvement :the case of small tea growers in south India

Abstract

Tea cultivation continues to be one of the most significant sources of livelihood in the Western Ghat regions of South India, particularly in the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu and Wayanad of Kerala. For thousands of Small Tea Growers (STGs), it represents not only a traditional occupation but also the primary means of family income and social identity. Over the past two decades, the STG sector has been facing multiple challenges such as declining profit margins, labour shortages, increasing input costs, erratic rainfall, and fluctuating leaf prices. While the tea industry has expanded its export potential, the benefits have not reached small growers equitably. This is attributed to their limited access to technology, credit, and marketing facilities. In this context, the promotion of social and technological innovations has become essential to sustain smallholder livelihoods, enhance product quality, and strengthen the overall competitiveness of the sector. Recognising this need, the present study entitled “Social and Technological innovations for quality improvement: The case of Small Tea Growers in South India” was designed. It focused mainly on the analysis of the socio- demographic profile, current status of innovation adoption among small tea growers and its influence on their livelihood outcomes. The study was conducted in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu and Wayanad district of Kerala, covering a total of 200 respondents (150 small tea growers and 50 extension officers). Proportionate random sampling was used for STG selection. Data were collected through personal interviews using a pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule. Analytical tools such as descriptive statistics, Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance, Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), Mann -Whitney U Test, Kruskal-Wallis Test, and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) were used for analysis. The findings revealed that most growers belonged to the senior age group (above 50 years) with moderate education and long experience in tea cultivation. Majority owned small holdings of less than one acre and depended solely on rainfall for irrigation. Innovation adoption was moderate, with high uptake of fertilizer management (98%), shade-tree regulation (92.7%), and clonal cultivars (80.7%), while certification (0.7%) and use of digital tools (16.7%) were least adopted. Social innovations such as membership in associations (93.2%) and collective decision- making (88%) were widely practiced. Tamil Nadu growers recorded significantly higher adoption of mechanization, soil management, training participation, and digital tools compared to Kerala, owing to better institutional extension support. Innovation adoption showed a positive and significant association with livelihood outcomes. Farmers who adopted innovations achieved better financial stability, stronger social linkages, and greater confidence in farming decisions. The Propensity Score Matching analysis indicated that both socio-economic factors and innovation adoption together improved household welfare. The study also found that 79.33 per cent of growers were food secure, reflecting stable access to food and regular cash flow from tea cultivation. Tamil Nadu farmers reported slightly higher livelihood and well-being scores than those in Kerala, mainly due to stronger institutional support and frequent extension contact from Tea Board and UPASI. Among the influencing factors, annual income, occupation, area under tea, and farm machinery ownership played a major role in adoption, while age and education had a negative effect, showing that younger and economically stronger growers were more willing to take up innovations. The Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) confirmed that financial capacity and awareness together determine the level of readiness among small tea growers to adopt innovations. Although awareness about improved practices is gradually increasing, many small tea growers still face several barriers in effective adoption of innovations. The main challenges include shortage of labour during peak plucking periods, high input costs, and limited financial resources to purchase machinery or quality materials. Marketing difficulties such as dependence on middlemen and lack of collective selling arrangements also reduce farmers’ income opportunities. Moreover, the process of receiving government subsidies remains slow and complicated, with lengthy procedures and paperwork that discourage growers from applying. To address these issues, there is a need to strengthen extension services, simplify subsidy procedures, promote affordable mechanization, and ensure easier access to credit. Encouraging the participation of youth and women in tea-related activities and establishing digital marketing platforms can further enhance innovation adoption, improve product quality, and ensure better livelihood security for small tea growers in South India.