Potentials and Challenges of Rural entrepreneurship in Assam: A

study of two sectors-Small Tea and Natural Silk

* Dr. Jatindra Nath Saikia.

I. Introduction:
While discussing about rural India we find a widely pronounced statement as ‘India is
still in villages’. This is, no doubt true since more than 70 % of India’s total population lives in
villages. We can not expect a developed India when the rural India is found undeveloped in real
sense of the term. The Government of India has been implementing a large number of schemes
to uplift the rural economy of India. For example, the NREGA is one of the schemes by which
rural people are being given opportunities to earn. But nevertheless, the economic condition of
the rural people has not upgraded. But some states of India like Gujarat, Maharastra, Punjab and
Haryana have been able to show some good results in the rural areas. This has become possible
because of the development of entrepreneurship in such states. So the development of
entrepreneurship in rural India can be regarded as an important condition for the economic
development of India.
Despite offering different incentives by the Central Government and the respective state
Governments, the people of the North Eastern Region (NER) of India are lagging behind in
entrepreneurship. Consequently the region has to import almost all the articles from other states
with some exceptions. The NER of India consists of eight states viz. Assam, Arunachall Pradesh,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. The NER of India covers an area of 2.62
lakh square kilometer, which is 7.9% of total geographical area of the country. The area is
divided into three geographical divisions- the Shillong Plateau, the North Eastern Hill Basin and
the Brahmaputra Valley. With a total population of 39 million (2001), it accounts for 3.8% of the
total population of India. The economy of the NER of India is different from other regions
because of its peculiar physical, economic and social characteristics.
In comparison with other states and regions of India, the NER is economically backward.
The number of economic activities is less in this region than in other regions of the country. The
indigenous people of this region are simple and less interested in commercial activities than the
migrated people of other states of the country. For example, the business hub of Assam-Fancy
Bazar, situated in the heart of Guwahati, the capital city of Assam, has been controlled by the
people of outside the NER of India. During the course of our study we have observed that almost
100% businessmen in Fancy Bazar is from out side the region. Same is case in other business
cities of Assam like Tinsukia, Jorhat etc. With some exception, almost all the talented young
people want a blue colour job. Those who can not manage a job start some ventures. But in most
of the cases entrepreneurship is not their passion. It has also been observed that some of the
young persons constantly try to get a job even though they have already started ventures which
start earning profits. Entrepreneurship culture is still in the bud in this region. But the entire
region with its rich natural resources, wonderful scenic beauty, fertile soil, wide rivers and blue
hills, pollution free environment and many other peculiar features has got high potentials to
develop the entrepreneurship culture particularly in the rural areas. It is also a fact that the
entrepreneurs both the existing as well as prospective have to face a lot of problems in this
region.
 The objective of this paper is to identify the potentials and challenges of rural
entrepreneurship in Assam and suggest measures to overcome the challenges.
In the following section, the methodology part of the paper is discussed.
The paper contains both primary and secondary data. Primary data have been collected by
canvassing questionnaires to small tea growers, bought leaf factories, workers of small tea
gardens, suppliers and intermediaries relating to small tea sector scattered in different parts of
Assam on random sampling basis. In order to collect necessary information regarding the
production and the marketing of green leaves multi stage random sampling design has been
adopted. In case of multi stage random sampling technique which has been applied in this study
the units of population such as small tea growers, labourers, green leaves suppliers, bought leaf
factories etc. have been interviewed through an open ended survey instrument(Schedules) at
various stages according to the sample design framed. By applying the same method, primary
information have been collected from the Muga and Eri seed producers, rearers, reelers, weavers
and traders for the purpose of this paper. Some business areas of Assam such as Fancy Bazar of
Guwahati, Jorhat city of Jorhat district and Tinsukia city of Tinsukia district have been visited in
order to collect information about the percentage of indigenous people engaged in business in
such areas to verify the recorded data of the Municipal corporation of Guwahati and other
Municipal Boards of the concerned towns. Personal interview has also been conducted with the
office bearers of the All Assam Small Tea Growers of Assam.
Secondary data have been collected to supplement the primary information. Secondary
data such as published reports of Tea Board of India, All Assam Small Tea Growers Association,
Souvenirs of the different bi-ennial Conferences of the All Assam Small Tea Growers
Association, Central Silk Board, Government of India, Directorate of Sericulture, Government of
Assam and different publications of the concerned departments.
The size of the sample has been determined by using adequate statistical method of
determination of the size of sample with 95% level of confidence and desired level of precision.
Scope of the Study:
In this region, there are immense potentials for rural entrepreneurship in different sectors.
But, this paper deals with only the potentials and challenges of two sectors viz. small tea and
natural silk of Assam. Other aspects of entrepreneurship such as psychological traits
(achievement-motivation etc.), Cognitive Reflection (IQ), Risk Aversion and Time Preference
etc. are not dealt with in this paper. Since there is dearth of research literature on these areas of
rural entrepreneurship, researchers may select them as the themes of their research.

Entrepreneurship development has been recognized widely as one of the keys of

economic development and human welfare. Entrepreneurial skill help boosting the
industrialization and for alleviating mass unemployment and poverty. Entrepreneurs search for
change, respond to it and exploit it as an opportunity. “Entrepreneurship is the attempt to create
value through recognition of business opportunity, the management of risk taking appropriate to
the opportunity, and through the communicative and management skills to mobilize human,
financial and material resources necessary to bring a project to fruition.”1 Entrepreneurship can
be viewed as a creative and innovative response to the environment and an ability to recognize,
initiate and exploit an economic opportunity.2
The entire NER of India is industrially backward though there are abundant natural
resources. Since entrepreneurship culture focuses on the emergence of new opportunities, the
means of capitalizing them, and the creation of the structure appropriate for pursuing them, this
culture has to be introduced in the entire region. In order to create employment opportunities and
to increase the standard of living of the people of the region, it is very urgent to create an
entrepreneurial culture. The introduction of entrepreneurial culture would be possible only when
the potentials and the problems are identified properly. This is an attempt to do so and this will
clarify the importance of the study. The findings of this paper will definitely be able to show the
opportunities relating to the livelihood of the posterity. Moreover, if the young generation of
Assam in particular and of the entire NER of India in general can be motivated to be
entrepreneur, the outflow from the mainstream to the extremists outfits will be minimized or
stopped. So there is urgent need to create an entrepreneurial culture in the entire NER of India
for the benefit of the whole country.
In the following part of the paper the potentialities of small tea gardens in Assam has
been verified.
II.Potentials of opening small tea gardens in rural areas of Assam:
Small tea sector can be one of the most convenient sectors for developing
entrepreneurship culture among the rural people. The government of Assam allowed the people
of Assam to open small tea gardens in 1978 by abolishing all the legal barriers relating to it.
Though the soil condition and climate of Assam is congenial for the cultivation of tea, the
indigenous people of Assam were deprived of this outstanding entrepreneurship because of some
formidable legislation. Production of tea had been the monopoly of big companies and that too of
a few multinationals prior to that declaration. Inspired by that declaration, a few entrepreneurs
started their small tea gardens to be followed by others in large numbers. At present, there are
more than sixty five thousands small tea growers of Assam providing employment opportunities,
directly and indirectly, to 13 lakhs people of Assam.3 The contribution of the small tea gardens
to the total amount of Assam’s tea is 14.85% and Assam produces more than half of India’s total
production, i.e. 51% 4 According to the All Assam Small Tea growers Association the area of
land possessed by the small tea growers is 1,35,431.40 Hector and out of this 1,12,218 hector of
land has been planted.5
One of the most important aspects of this venture is the selection of the method of
cultivation. These new generation entrepreneurs should start opening organic tea gardens for
it is highly demanded in foreign countries. The people of developed countries being highly
conscious about their health prefer organic tea to chemical used tea. So there is wide market of
the organic tea all over the world.
Organic Tea creates a set of different rural entrepreneurs:
Organic tea would also be able to create a large number of other entrepreneurs.
Because, tea cultivation needs huge amount of manure and other medicine to fight insects
and different diseases. To meet the demands of organic tea cultivation a large number of
people can start producing vermin composes and composed manure from agriculture and
other garbage. Organic tea needs huge cow dung and this would create another set of
entrepreneurs like diary farmers. This would also create a good number of entrepreneurs
to be engaged in different milk products. In this way, production of organic tea would be
able to create multiple positive effects in the entrepreneurship development in the North
Eastern Region of India.
III. Challenges faced by the small tea growers:
The existing small tea growers have been facing a myriad of challenges. The prospective
entrepreneurs in this sector will also be of no exception in this regard.
 In the report on the Third All India Census of Small Scale Industrial Units, Prepared by
the Director of Industries and Commerce, Government of Assam it is observed that the main
reasons for the closure of registered Small Scale Industries were, “ Marketing Problems, Finance
Problems and Could not Survive Competition”. The Small scales Growers of Assam are also
facing these problems along with others.
1. Land Problems:
This has been one of the major problems for the small tea growers of Assam since the
Government has not issued myadi patta (Land holding certificate) to a large number of tea
growers. Because of non-issuing of Patta by the Government these tea gardens are not yet
entitled to get registered under the Tea Board of India. Consequently, these enterprises are
deprived of the Government subsidy in respect of new planting, setting up of Pilot Tea Producers
Societies ( Self –Help Groups), usage of mechanical aids ( pruning machines) for field
operations and creation of irrigation facility. Because of the absence of myadi patta, the
economic activities of a large number of entrepreneurs can not be regarded as legitimate for
which the respective state Governments also have not been able to calculate the actual amount of
tea production.
2. Non existence of organized markets:
There is not yet any organized market to sell the green leaves produced by the small tea gardens
and consequently they are unable to secure remunerative price for their products. Some agents
collects green leaves from the gardens and if for some reasons they do not turn in time, the
plucked green leaves go waste. The price of green leaves is always unpredictable due to the
above reasons. Moreover, the marketing of tea is a complex process. It is required business
acumen, finance and technical expertise which is lacking with some exception in almost all the
small tea growers of Assam.
3. The monopoly of the bought leaf factories:
The fixing of the prices of green leaves has so far been the monopoly of bought leaf factories and
is very often controlled by the whims and fancies of the tea factories of big companies. Due to
the lesser bargaining power of these small tea gardens, sometimes the cost of production is also
not covered by the offered prices of green leaves.
4. Middlemen share the cream: Since the small tea growers have to depend upon the
agents who collect the green leaves from them, a handsome amount of commission pocketed by
these agents or middlemen. As a result of this the growers have been deprived of their real dues.
5. Lack of Expertise: The small tea growers lack expertise in many aspects such as
application of pesticides, insecticides, weedicide, fertilizers, plucking, pruning, leaf handling
etc.
New Challenges:
The globalization of Indian economy has brought a number of new challenges that are
being encountered by the small tea growers of Assam.
1. Increased cost of fertilizers, fuel, power and chemicals used in the Gardens.
2. Stiff Competition from other Producer Countries.
3. Product Development and Diversification.
4. Attraction of the customers to beverages like Colas etc.
5. Excess production of tea world wide and sharp fall in the real price of tea.
6. The burden of ‘crisis’ in tea industry is not reflected in the profitability of the industry,
but is reflected in the workers and the small tea growers.
7. Lack of proper management, accounting, congenial industrial relations, updated
knowledge about the global market etc.
8. Absence of buyers of organic green tea within the country because of the availability of
chemical used tea at cheap price.
9. The absence of mechanism to ensure redistribution of the benefits of trade to workers and
small tea growers.
IV. How to Overcome the Challenges:
1. Small tea growers can shift to Organic tea production. Because of the health
consciousness the consumers of tea prefer organic tea to other than organic. Since tea is
also used as a health drink by the consumers of developed countries, the organic growers
would be able to obtain very high price. It is easier for the small tea growers to convert
their existing cultivation to organic cultivation than the big tea companies.
2. There should be provision for providing loans to small tea growers with minimum
interest.
3. The Government needs to bring in legislation through which the small tea garden owners
can be given myadi patta and allowed to ask for loans where land documents are not
mandatory. Due to the absence of the land holding document a large number of small tea
growers have not been able to avail the benefits of different schemes of the Tea Board of
India. The government should pay special attention to this aspect without further delay.
4. The Government must take steps to ensure the remunerative price for the small tea
growers. Sometimes the big companies create some artificial problems for which the
small growers do not get the genuine price of the green leaves. This should be taken care
of by the government.
5. The recent phenomenon of the fall in auction prices and rise in retail prices for tea can be
converted into great prospect through the establishment of private limited companies
as well as the public limited companies and own brand with the active participation
of the Government. Instead of allowing beverage market and cold drinks market to
take over and dictate terms to the tea market, the small tea growers must enter into
the beverage market with new and innovative products made out of tea.
6. The small tea growers of Assam should think of introducing branded flavored tea with
natural spices. They can also follow the example of KTDC, Kenya6 which has three
flavored teas namely, ginger, masala and lemon.
7. The health agenda of tea can be pushed forward to excite more consumption of tea. A
growing consumption of tea due to health benefits is driving up a global trade in extracts.
Fat burning, immune-boosting and age defying are just a few of the labels that have
appeared on tea drinks in Europe and the US in recent months. As the consumers
become more concerned with dental health and losing weight, the demand for carbonated
drinks has weakened and shifted to tea products. Health concerns are also driving strong
demand for tea drinks in Asia.
9. The Tea Inspectors of the Tea Board of India should be directed to inspect the small tea
gardens in order to instruct the tea growers regarding use of fertilizers, pesticides,
insecticides etc. so that no residue of pesticides or other chemical is left in the green
leaves.
10. The small tea growers will be benefited if they form either private limited or public
limited companies in order to set up tea factories. Since every shareholder has to
contribute a large amount of share, they will be committed to their company
 without which they have to suffer loss. Moreover, the agreement to supply green leaves
to the factories should be irrevocable so that the tea growers are bound to supply green
leaves to the factories they are committed to. In this regard, the small tea growers can
avail the facility provided by the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small
Enterprises (CGTMSE) set up by the Government of with the cooperation of the SIDIBI
in August 2000. The CGTMSE provide collateral free credit to this small and micro
sector. It is noteworthy that the CGTMSE extends guarantee for credit facility up to Rs. 1
crore extended by its Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) to Micro and Small
Enterprises (both in the manufacturing and the service sector excluding retail trade).
11. The Small tea growers of Assam should maintain the Books of accounts properly to have
the real picture of their financial position. They should also keep proper accounts of
fertilizers and chemicals applied in their small gardens. Every small tea grower should
develop the banking habit.
V. Natural Silk Sector can boost entrepreneurship in rural areas of Assam:
The people of Assam living in rural areas have been practicing sericulture as one of the
activities of livelihood since long. It has been playing vital role in the rural economy by
providing gainful employment opportunities to the poor and backward segments of the
region. Moreover, the silk in general and Muga in particular has been associated with the
rituals and traditions of Assamese society. So, the production of silk and its usage have
become an important household activity. So far as the production of Muga is concerned,
Assam’s position is always on the top (95%) among the states of the NER of India.
Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur are the major producers of Eri Silk apart from Assam.
Oak Tasar is mainly produced in Manipur though all the states of the NER of India produce
certain quality of Mulberry silk.
Assam, the gateway of the NER of India, is also known for producing all the four types
of silk. But Assam specializes in producing Muga silk. Muga culture is endemic to Assam
since no where in the world Muga is produced except Assam and a small amount in some
sates of the NER of India. Muga culture is practiced in the districts of Kamrup, Goalpara,
Udalguri, Kokrajhar, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sibsaga, Jorhat, Golaghat, Lakhimpur and
Dhemaji in the state of Assam.7 Eri silk is produced in many districts of Assam especially in
Kamrup, Udalguri, Tinsukia, Darang, Goalpara, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat,
Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Nagan, Morigaon, Cachar, Karbianglong, North Cachar Hills,
Kokrajhar and Dhubri.8

Following table shows the state wise breakup on Area and Families involved in Natural
silk sector in the NER of India:
Table-1
State Area in hectares Families
Mulberry Muga Eri Oak Total Nos
Assam 4539 7263 7938 27 19767 185000

Arunachal 590 550 500 110 1750 3340

Pradesh
Manipur 5914 1273 13543 7150 27880 2500

Meghalaya 917 545 1285 NIL 2747 2096

Mizoram 4820 204 148 NIL 5172 3500

Nagaland 369 227 3240 274 4110 7370

Tripura 1407 NIL NIL NIL 1407 105000

Total 18556 10062 26654 7561 62833 308806

Source: Status Report 2006-07 of concerned states: Available in the Office of the
Director of Sericulture, Govt. of Assam, Khanapara, Guwahati.
Though Muga silk is simply unparallel to any silk of the world for its luxurious look and
wonderful comforts, the weavers of Assam cater the domestic need of local people only. Product
diversification is one of the most important aspects to increase the revenue in this sector. But this
has not been observed significantly during our study.
Though the production of Eri and Muga silk is confined to the NER of India, a very small
amount is exported to other countries. There is not any focused approach to organize the silk
sector to meet the needs of the foreign countries. There is no denying the fact that the Muga
and Eri silk of Assam would be able to create a high demand in the world market if every
aspect of the production of such silk is modernized keeping in view the latest taste and
preferences of the consumers.
During our survey it was observed that some of the adventurous producers have started
producing some new items out of Muga and Eri silk. These are Shoes, readymade shirting, Tie,
Hat, Socks, Sweaters, T. shirts, Umbrella, Scarves, Coats, Inner wears, Jackets, Eri blankets, etc.
All these products have high demand even in the local market. This has revealed the fact that
Muga and Eri silk products would be sold in the foreign market like hot cake.
VI. Why Entrepreneurship in Muga Silk Sector should GROW
As has already been mentioned Muga is endemic to the NER of India. So proper care
should be taken up to protect this wonderful silk worm so that it does not become extinct. Muga,
the magnificent silk with its gorgeous look can win the heart of any people of the world.
Muga is the indicator of climate and pollution. Muga can be reared only in a pollution free
environment. Production of Muga would clearly indicate the environmental condition of the
region. Muga food plants are green and high. So these plants create a green atmosphere
which is highly required in the present context of alarming global warming. This will have a
positive effect on the environment and it will also enhance the scenic beauty. This in turn
would help in boosting the tourism industry of the region as the tourists from industrial world
prefer green and pollution free places having natural beauty.
This sector is women friendly. Since most of the master weavers are women, this sector
contributes to a large extent in empowering the women among the weaker section of the state.
The gestation period in this sector is very low, but the return is high. Moreover, this sector is able
to provide employment opportunities to a large extent.
Natural Silk sector creates a set of entrepreneurs such as:
Seed (Muga and Eri) producers, Seed sellers, Rearers (Cocoon producers), Cocoon
sellers, Yearn producers (Reelers and Spinners), Weavers, Fashion Designers, Traders,
different types of Loom manufacturers, Loom traders etc.
Why entrepreneurs would be the gainer by exporting the natural silk
products:
• Muga & Eri silk are totally natural and these silk have got natural colour and need no
dyeing. So the latest taste and preferences of modern and moneyed customers would
be met by the Muga and Eri silk products.
• Since Muga & Eri silk are totally natural and no chemical is used, it is the best silk
for human skin. This aspect is taken care of by the conscious consumers and the
consumers of the developed countries.
• It absorbs sunlight and protects the body from the ultraviolet rays and heat of the Sun.
It (Muga) has the special character of keeping the body cool during summer and
warm during winter. It should be publicized widely all over the world in order to
create markets particularly in the developed countries.
• Its colour, glaze and other qualities will attract the customers of the developed
countries.
• Production of silk helps in increasing the green cover on the earth which in turn helps
in reducing the harmful effects of the global Warming. This will no doubt help the
mankind to minimize the green house gas emission. It will help in growing the
tourism industry in the region in return also.
• Natural Silk like Eri and Muga are environment friendly. The consumers of the
developed countries seek green products now-a-days.
• The customers of the developed countries are highly educated and health conscious.
So the natural silk would be able to create high demand in such countries.
There are lots of challenges that are being encountered by the existing entrepreneurs and
the prospective entrepreneurs have also to be prepared to overcome the challenges. In this
respect our study has identified the following:
VII. Findings relating to the Challenges in this sector:

Our study has revealed that the reeling, spinning and processing of both Muga and Eri are
done in a traditional manner. At present, these activities are confined to the household level
instead of entrepreneurial. There is not any Industrial Estate for Muga reeling and Eri
spinning. The available machinery for doing these activities is also not sophisticated and there is
also a scarcity of spare parts of the machinery. The reelers and spinners have to face a lot of
difficulties to get the required spare parts if the machinery goes out of order. Muga reelers also
face the paucity of working capital for which they have to borrow money from money lenders at
a very high rate of interest in order to run their activities. The Muga weaving sector is also facing
a number of problems such as absence of skilled workers, lack of sufficient working capital, lack
of the supply sufficient raw materials and high operational cost. Moreover, there is not any
facility of processing such as dyeing, embroidery, tailoring etc. in the weaving clusters. Erratic
power supply is also another problem that is being suffered by all the people connected with
Muga and Eri Silk sector.
It has been observed that due to the free entry of Chinese Silk into our country in
recent times, our weavers use to mix the Chinese Silk with Muga after a dye in Muga
colour. This habit of the weavers will certainly decrease the value of Muga Silk.
 One of the most interesting aspects that have been found from our study is that most of
the Weavers are not well aware of the worth of the product. They are also not so much
interested in getting training.
So far as the Eri sector is concerned, it is less organized than Muga sector. Eri spinning is
regarded by the spinners as a part time activity only. Just as the Muga sector, Eri sector is also
having the problem of working capital, lack of modern machinery to spine Eri cocoon, lack of
processing facility etc. Due to the lack of sufficient facility in Assam to spine and to make
dresses, a large quantity of cocoons are sent to Bhagalpur in Bihar every year.
Marketing is a complex process. In order to be expert in marketing, one needs to have
business acumen, finance, human resource management and technical expertise. Most of the
People of Assam are lacking these qualities and the people associating with Eri and Muga sector
are also of no exception.

What types of special care has to be taken to develop this sector:

The demand of Muga and Eri products are more than the supply or production at
present. It means the resources are limited and insufficient to feed the demand of the market. So
a market research is required to produce the marketable products for the existing as well as
prospective customers in order to earn optimum revenue with limited resources.
To produce and distribute marketable goods made of Muga & Eri silk, we must identify
the problems that are being faced by the real producers and the weavers of Muga & Eri silk.
To determine the size, nature and organization of the sales of the Muga and Eri products
we must identify the constraints of putting the finished products into market
In order to know the taste & preferences of existing as well as prospective customers
within and outside the country we have to interact with the Fashion Designers and Export
Houses of different places. To facilitate the creation of new market within and outside the
country we must study the problems that stand in the way of increasing the volume of Muga and
Eri products in Assam. A systematic market study will facilitate necessary market information to
the producers.
In order to increase the volume of marketable products we have to study the strength and
weaknesses of existing products.
VIII. Conclusion:
In order to survive in the face of stiff competition from the MNCs the existing new
generation as well as the prospective Small Tea Growers of Assam will have to change their
style of functioning. They need to keep abreast of the demands of the international market and
produce their commodity on a par with international standard. It is the need of the hour to change
the approach of the small tea growers of the region in order to understand different aspects of
Business World.
Both state and the central Government should pay special attention to the problems and the
prospects of these entrepreneurs of so that the young generation can get engaged in some
economic activities rather than any extremist activities in this extremists hit region. Moreover, in
order to protect the influx of illegal foreign nationals from Bangladesh, which has been creating
serious problems to our nation in general and to Assam in particular, every plot of land suitable
for tea cultivation should be utilized preferably with the cultivation of tea. Otherwise, these
illegal nationals would get settled in such plots and our governments would be helpless
afterwards.
 Sericulture, being one of the most important means of livelihood of the people of the
NER of India, should boost in order to generate more and more employment opportunities in the
region. Muga and Eri culture has got immense potentials not only to meet the demand of the
domestic consumers but also the consumers of the developed countries. To attract the consumers
of developed countries, the concerned parties (Weavers, Dress makers, Fashion Designers, etc.)
must study the taste and preferences of the customers spread apart. Instead of devoting to meet
the need of the local people, the producers should target the consumers of the developed states of
our country too in order to earn optimum revenue. The Eri sector, which is still a primitive one,
should be modernized and sophisticated spinning machines should be used for spinning Eri
cocoons.
The Central Silk Board (CSB), Government of India and the Department of Sericulture,
Government of Assam have been trying to develop the Eri and Muga sector of the region. A
number of research studies have also been conducted under CSB in order to increase the
productivity of this sector and to reduce the problems that are being faced by all the parties such
as seed producers, cocoon producers, reelers, Spinners, weavers, traders etc. But until and unless
the people, who are associated in this volatile sector, including the Government Officials, put
their heart, everything will be ended in smoke.

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References:
1. John Kao and Howard Stevenson (eds.) Entrepreneurship- What It Is
and How to teach it. Division of Research, Harvard Business School, 1989.
2. Gupta C.B. and Srinivason N.P., Entrepreneurship Development in
India, Sultan Chand and Sons, New Delhi, 2003, p. 1.17.
3. All Assam Small Tea Growers Survey Report, 2008 available in the
Head Office of the All Assam Small Tea Growers Association, Jeewan Phukan
Nagar, C.R. Building, Chowkidingee, Dibrugarh-3, Assam.
4. Kakoti Jibanjyoti and Saikia Jatindra Nath, Challenges Before Small
Tea Growers of Assam, The Kurukshetra, Vol. 57, No.-6, April 2009, P. 32.
5. All Assam Small Tea Growers Survey Report, 2008 available in the
Head Office of the All Assam Small Tea Growers Association, Jeewan Phukan
Nagar, C.R. Building, Chowkidingee, Dibrugarh-3, Assam.
6. Kakoti Jibanjyoti and Saikia Jatindra Nath, Challenges Before Small
Tea Growers of Assam, The Kurukshetra, Vol. 57, No.-6, April 2009, P. 34.
7. Status Report, 2006-07, available in the Office of the Director of
Sericulture, Government of Assam, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam.
8. ibid.

------------------------------------------------o-----------------------------------------------
Dr. Jatindra Nath Saikia.
* DR. JATINDRA NATH SAIKIA is a Selection Grade Lecturer ( Associate Professor),
Department of Human Resource Management, Director, Entrepreneurship & Career
Guidance Cell, Coordinator, BBA Programme, Golaghat Commerce College, Assam,
PIN: 785 621 and Individual Professional Member of the All India Management
Association and Life Member of the Indian Commerce Association.
Residence:
P.W.D. Colony Road,
Near Circuit House, Golaghat,
Dist & P. O. Golaghat,
PIN: 785 621(Assam).
Email: jatin_saikia&yahoo.com
Mobile: 9435151015.