Economics of tea based inter cropping in Tinsukia district of Assam

The focus of this study was to find out the profitability of intercropping of tea in different cropping systems. The study was conducted in Tinsukia district of Assam. Yield and profitability oftea, areca nut and orangewas significantly influenced by the intercrops in different cropping systems. Tea planted as sole crop recorded higher yield than inter cropping with areca nut and orange.However, the gross return found in different inter cropping system was much higher than that of sole tea crop. Average return over variable cost from conventional cultivation of sole tea was recorded (109101.00 Rs./ha) much lower than that of mix cropping of tea with areca nut (202735.76 Rs./ha), with orange (208166.20) and with areca nut and orange (232176.56) intercropping system. Thus, the intercropping system can be a source of additional income generation and can also act as an insurance against price fluctuation of green tea leaves. Among all intercropping systems studied, tea+areca nut+ orange cropping system was found to be themost profitable cropping system with a B:C ratio of 2.62.