Farm Technocrat's Forum

Farm Technocrat's Forum

It has been rightly said that knowledge must not be confined within oneself only, it should be delivered in every possible way for the betterment of society. Something similar is being carried out by some of the alumni members of “Palampur agriculture university”(HPAU). Many of them are retired scientists from the mother university. They are the volunteers who have not settled after just completing their job terms ,they are using their cognition which they have gained through their hard work during their jobs as well as during their graduations when at that time 60% of the country’s economy was dependent on agriculture, so as to make Indian agriculture more productive and less harmful for the environment.

Coming to the crux of the story, Its Farm Technocrats Forum (FTF) what we are talking about. Its an NGO,formed by the alumni of”HPAU”. Mainly I am going to talk about one of the most common beverage in India, especially in northern India. But I’ll not be talking about tea production going in India, rather than I’ll be considering the “Kangra TEA” .

Kangra is one of the biggest districts in Himachal Pradesh with its beautiful valley shape. Tea of this place is well known for its quality as evidenced by the Gold and Silver medals won in London and Amsterdam markets during 1886-1895. Presently, the total area in Himachal is around 2300 hectares with annual production of 14lakh kgs, but the biggest impediment is that this tea is not able to compete with other teas in national auction centers due to which the growers are loosing interest towards this industry. The Farm Technocrat’s Forum being a group of professionals skilled in different fields, administratively experienced, socially creditable people can play an invaluable role in bridging the link among the growers for the upliftment of this industry.

The main Aims and Objectives of FTF are:

· To improve tea productivity of Himachal Pradesh popularly known as “Kangra Tea”

· To bring the neglected and abandoned tea gardens(about 47% of the total area)under organic production.

· To develop organic tea plantations in non-traditional areas of Chamba district.

· To promote organic tea production so as to identify Kangra Tea as a distinct product in comparison to teas of other regions in the market as Certified Organic Tea.

· To help the growers in proper marketing in organic sale centres established in different cities.

So from this NGO i.e. Farm Technocrat’s Forum, we can hope for the better future of distinct flavoured Kangra Tea.