Career in Tea Estate Manager

While sipping a cup of tea in the morning, have you ever wondered how the tea you are enjoying is grown? How is it like working in a tea garden? How does it feel to exist in a tranquil environment far from the madding crowd? People who are working as tea estate managers say it is the life of a sahib (from the Raj days/a boss). You get to manage a whole lot of people; you are given a bungalow to live in with servants to take care of your needs. Some Tea Estate Manager say that the English culture/way of life is still prevalent in tea gardens of good companies and that is the reason why only students from public schools are preferred for the job or so till a few years ago.

A tea estate manager is a one point contact for everyone involved with tea garden work. As he stays in the tea garden he has to look afte each and everything taking place there. With the help of junior assistants and assistant managers, depending on the requirement of the garden, he has to supervise the plantation work, from planting to plucking, processing to packing and transport of tea to auction houses. As a tea estate manager you are the boss; and have to handle a number of responsibilities. You have to look after the tea processing units, the garden and around 1,000-2,000 labourers.

A tea estate manager has to control the tea gardens with the help of junior assistants and assistant managers, depending on the requirement of the garden. Their work involves supervision of all plantation work from planting to plucking, processing to packing and transport of tea to auction houses. There are other aspects also that a tea estate manager has to look into. Tea gardens come under Plantation Labour Act and a manager's job is to see that the welfare schemes for labourers are implemented in their true spirit. Along with the medical officer he has to see that medical facilities in the tea garden is in good shape. As you are based in the tea garden itself, you have to attend to anything that happens there.

Most of the tea gardens are in a secluded place and for people who are not outdoor types it can be a problem. One is mostly busy clubbing (most of the tea gardens have clubs), horse riding, trekking, etc. We always look for sports oriented youngsters, people who are fond of sports. We do not need brilliant students but we need people who are good administrators and have a good personality.

How Do I Get There

One can get into a tea estate after graduation and pick up skills while working in a tea garden and tea estates in india. However, these days, a degree in agricultural science or a BSc in botany, food sciences, horticulture or allied fields is preferred. Candidates who have specialised in business management or marketing are recruited for marketing jobs. Then there are many institutes that give training in tea management. There on can learn about tea production, processing, finance, marketing and sales.

Institutes for Tea Estate Management

Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat
Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bangalore
Dipras Institute of Professional Studies, Kolkata
Birla Institute of Management and Futuristic Studeis, Kolkata
Assam Darjeling Tea Research Centre, Kurseong, Darjeeling