Siliguri, Aug. 7 -- A brief suspension of green tea leaf procurement over mandatory pesticide residue norms has brought into sharp focus the challenges confronting thousands of small tea growers in North Bengal, raising concerns over how food safety regulations can be implemented without disrupting livelihoods.
While the crisis was triggered by the enforcement of mandatory Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) compliance, it has exposed a deeper reality-the widening gap between food safety regulations and the capacity of small farmers to comply with them.
North Bengal's tea industry forms the backbone of the regional rural economy, directly and indirectly supporting the livelihoods of nearly 3 to 3.5 million people.
The latest controversy has emer...