Women SHGs in Kishanganj Target 10 Lakh Kg Tea Production This Year Under JEEViKA
Kishanganj, April 2, 2026 — A massive economic revolution is quietly brewing in the rural heartlands of Bihar, and it is entirely led by women. Setting their sights on an unprecedented milestone, the enterprising ‘Jeevika Didis’ of Kishanganj district have officially launched their new season with a staggering target: producing 10 lakh kilograms of tea leaves to supercharge the local rural economy.
The 10 Lakh KG Vision
The ambitious operation is being spearheaded by the Mahananda Jeevika Mahila Agro Producer Company Limited (FPC), an all-women enterprise that manages the Tea Processing and Packaging unit in Pothia. On Tuesday, the facility successfully completed its high-stakes trial run for the upcoming production season, signaling that the massive rural machinery is ready to roll.
Confirming the milestone, DPM Jeevika Anuradha Chandra stated that the Mahananda FPC’s Board of Directors has locked in the 10 lakh kg tea production target for the current season. According to officials on the ground, all technical and logistical preparations are complete, and the factory floors are officially open for business.
A Game-Changer for Local Farmers
This female-led initiative isn’t just about breaking production records; it is fundamentally transforming how local agriculture operates. Currently, raw tea leaves are procured through 45 dedicated farmer-collectors across multiple collection centers.
To ensure financial security and transparency, the Jeevika women have implemented a rapid payment system. Farmers who sell their produce to the factory receive their payments directly transferred into their bank accounts within a strict seven-day window.
The efficiency of this system is already proven. Between August and December 2025 alone, the women successfully procured over 6.86 lakh kg of raw tea leaves. Last season, the unit successfully produced 1.5 lakh kg of processed tea, of which over 1 lakh kg has already been sold into the market.
Women Leading the Charge
The sheer scale of this operation is a testament to the power of grassroots empowerment. The Mahananda FPC operates across three major blocks—Pothia, Thakurganj, and Kishanganj Sadar—and is backed by 737 female shareholders. Every single shareholder is a member of a Jeevika self-help group, deeply involved in every step of the process, from cultivating the crops to meticulously plucking the tea leaves.
The factory itself was formally handed over to the Jeevika women for operation on April 27, 2025, following a special approval by the Bihar State Cabinet. Since then, the six-member, all-women Board of Directors has run the facility with absolute corporate precision.
As the new season kicks off, the eyes of the state are firmly fixed on Kishanganj. If the Jeevika Didis successfully hit their towering 10 lakh kg target, it will not only solidify Bihar’s position on the national tea-producing map but also serve as a definitive blueprint for female-led rural economic independence across India.
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