Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Monocrotophos Ban Aims to End Tea Procurement Crisis
The West Bengal government decided to stop selling a pesticide called monocrotophos because it was found in tea leaves that were too high for people to drink.
Small tea farmers in North Bengal were worried because the factories that buy their tea stopped buying leaves.
The state Agriculture Minister Dudhkumar Mondal met with farmers and factory owners to talk about the problem.
The government will watch the ban in four tea‑growing districts and plan more talks soon.
A local MP also met with everyone to make a plan to fix the crisis.
West Bengal government has banned the insecticide monocrotophos to address tea leaf residue concerns.
The ban follows a high‑level meeting chaired by Agriculture Minister Dudhkumar Mondal after growers protested the suspension of green leaf procurement by bought leaf factories.
Small tea growers in North Bengal, Dooars and Terai, and BLF workers face uncertainty after buyers halted purchases due to residues above the MRL.
The state will enforce the ban in four tea‑growing districts and monitor compliance, while a second round of talks is planned.
A Jalpaiguri MP convened a meeting with growers, BLF owners, buyers and Tea Board officials to map a coordinated roadmap for resolving the crisis.
- Who
- West Bengal state government and its Agriculture Minister Dudhkumar Mondal
- What
- Ban on the insecticide monocrotophos to resolve a tea leaf procurement crisis
- When
- Friday (recent high‑level meeting)
- Where
- North Bengal, Dooars, Terai, Jalpaiguri
- Why
- Residues above the maximum residue limit made tea unsuitable for sale, prompting growers to seek government intervention
- Insecticide banned
- Monocrotophos
- Affected region
- North Bengal, Dooars, Terai
- Key stakeholders
- Small tea growers, BLF owners, buyers
- Government action
- Prohibition of monocrotophos sale
- Next steps
- Second round of discussions, monitoring in four districts