Contents 1. Introduction 4 1.1 Background 4 1.2 Need of Study 5 1.3 Research Question 7 1.4 Aim 7 1.5 Objectives 7 1.6 Scope and Limitations. 7 1.7 Methodology 8 2. Tea, Small Tea Growers and Livelihood 12 2.1 Understanding Livelihood Framework 12 2.1.1 The DFID Livelihoods Framework 13 2.1.2 Conclusion from literature study 17 2.2 Tea: Its Origin and Spread 18 2.3 Indian Tea Industry 20 2.4 Assam Tea Industry 22 2.4.1 Emergence of Small Tea Growers in Assam 23 2.4.2 Growth of Small Tea Growers 25 2.5 Small Tea Growers: World Scenario 27 2.6 Small Tea Growers: Indian scenario 29 2.7 Small Tea Growers: Assam 30 2.8 Understanding Small Tea Cultivation 32 2.8.1 Review of Literature 32 2.8.2 Socio-economic characteristics of small tea growers 37 2.8 National and State Level Body for Small Tea Growers 47 2.8.1 National level 47 2.8.2 State level 49 3. Study area: Tinsukia District 51 3.1 Tinsukia District Profile 51 3.2 Tinsukia District: Demographic and Economic Profile 58 3.3 Site Selection 62 4. Site Analysis 70 4.1 Summary and Inferences 80 5. Conclusions and Recommendations 84 5.1 Conclusion 84 5.2 Recommendations 87 Bibliography 89