USE OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES IN THE SMALL TEA GARDENS OF ASSAM AND ITS EFFECT ON ENVIRONMENT: A CASE OF GOLAGHAT DISTRICT

Tea industry being the largest industrial sector of the state is playing a dominant role in the economy of Assam. It is the largest single industrial sector in the state, which is contributing a bigger share in the state income of Assam. The importance of tea industry can be realized from the fact that Assam alone produces more than 50% of the India’s total production. Further Assam tea also contributes substantially to the national exchequer every year in the shape of foreign exchange through its export.Development of Small tea gardens by the Small tea growers in the rural areas is very important in a state like Assam for providing employment opportunities which increases the income level of the rural youth. Although Small tea growers are benefitted more by growing use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the small tea gardens, it adversely effects on the environment. Due to lack of environmental awareness, inappropriate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides the rural environment is likely to be gradually degrading. Necessary steps are yet to be taken to overcome the problems relating to the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the small tea gardens of Assam. It is earnestly necessary to take positive steps to save the nature and to save life. An attempt has been made in this paper to know the environmental effects of using chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the Small tea gardens of Assam.