Permanent Mission of India
New York
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International Tea Day - “Tea for Livelihoods, Tea for SDGs”
 

Statement by Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, Permanent Representative
22 May. 2025

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very good afternoon to all.

It is a privilege to welcome you all to this special commemoration of International Tea Day, hosted by the Permanent Mission of India.

We are delighted to gather here to honor a humble leaf that connects people and continents, uplifts communities, and plays a significant role in our well being and in advancing sustainable development.

India is proud to have been part of the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2019, declaring 21 May as International Tea Day. The resolution recognized tea’s global importance in combating hunger and poverty, sustaining rural livelihoods, and fostering inclusive economic growth. It also affirms the potential of tea cultivation and trade in furthering the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Tea contributes meaningfully to several Sustainable Development Goals. It supports SDG 1 on ending poverty, SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, and SDG 13 on climate action. Promoting sustainable tea practices is therefore not only a matter of protecting livelihoods andpromoting inclusive development but also of advancing our shared development agenda.

Today’s theme—“Tea for Livelihoods, Tea for SDGs”—resonates deeply with India’s own experience. The story of tea in India is not merely one of trade and taste, but of transformation.

What began in early nineteenth century from the misty hills of Assam to the slopes of Darjeeling and the Nilgiris, India’s tea industry grew to become a cornerstone of rural employment, women’s empowerment, and export-led development.Today, India is one of the largest producers and consumers of tea in the world. The sector directly employs over 1.5 million workers, the majority of whom are women. It supports over 10 million livelihoods including smallholder farmers and those engaged in allied industries. For many of these communities, tea is not merely a crop—it is a way of life, and a source of dignity, opportunity, and hope.

It is however important to acknowledge that the tea industry faces complex challenges. Climate change is disrupting growing conditions. Rising input costs, market volatility, and structural inequities threaten the economic viability of small producers who are responsible for over 60% of global tea production. In many regions, there is an urgent need to improve working conditions and secure equitable returns for laborers and growers alike.

Addressing these challenges requires not only policy action but innovation. The Tocklai Tea Research Institute in India, an organisation that pioneer tea research since 1911, has introduced the Tocklai Good Agricultural Practices-Good Manufacturing Practices Standard in 2022 as the first ever sustainability certification crafted and adopted in India to usher in a climate-resilient tea industry. It integrates good agricultural and manufacturing practices and aligns the process with UN Sustainability Development Goals for transformational change in the Indian tea industry. The Standards will contribute to improving farm practices, management systems and sustainability performance and recommended practices include maintaining healthy soils, conserving water, avoiding deforestation, encouraging afforestation and protecting natural ecosystems and biodiversity.

In India, technology is increasingly being harnessed to modernize the sector. From AI-driven climate forecasting and drone-based crop management, to blockchain-enabled supply chains that ensure traceability and fair pricing—digital tools are enhancing resilience, sustainability, and inclusiveness across the tea value chain.

India remains committed to fostering international cooperation in this domain. We look forward to working with fellow Member States, international organizations, and the private sector to build more equitable, climate-resilient, and inclusive tea economies.

Tea has long been a symbol of hospitality and dialogue—offered in homes and meeting places around the world. Tea has fostered humanity’s townhalls allowing exchanges of good will, ideas and friendship. Let it also be a symbol of solidarity with the millions whose lives are shaped by it, and a reminder of what can be achieved when tradition, innovation, and multilateralism come together.

Let us raise our cups today not only in celebration, but in commitment—to the farmers, to the workers, to the environment, and to the promise of a more sustainable and just future for all.

Thank you.