Agartala, Sept 18: A green tea initiative from the hills of Dhalai district is creating a new avenue for rural livelihood while putting a local Tripura product on the market.

Produced by a women-led Self-Help Group (SHG) under the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM), ‘Longtharai Valley Green Tea’ is emerging as a locally branded product with an identity rooted in the state's hill areas.

The tea is produced by Nayan Self-Help Group through the Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU) of TRLM at Chawmanu in Dhalai district. The product is marketed under the brand ‘Dhalai Naturals’, with the tea sourced from the Longtharai Valley region.

The initiative is part of efforts to promote rural enterprises by enabling SHG members to turn locally available resources and skills into products that can reach wider markets.

According to TRLM, the green tea seeks to offer consumers the freshness associated with Tripura's hill regions while providing women members of rural SHGs with an opportunity to participate in production and enterprise development.

The 30-gram pack is priced at Rs. 100, inclusive of taxes, and carries a shelf life of 12 months. Nayan SHG has been identified as the producer, with the enterprise functioning under BMMU Chawmanu.

TRLM has also highlighted the nutritional and wellness-related attributes commonly associated with green tea, including its antioxidant content and potential role in supporting overall health.

Beyond the product itself, the initiative highlights the potential of SHG-based enterprises to create additional sources of income in rural areas. By linking local production with branding and market access, such ventures can help women entrepreneurs move beyond traditional livelihood activities and develop market-oriented businesses.

With Longtharai Valley serving as the product's distinctive identity, Dhalai Naturals' green tea also adds to the growing range of locally produced goods being developed through rural livelihood initiatives in Tripura.

The initiative reflects TRLM's focus on strengthening women-led enterprises and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities by connecting rural producers with consumers and markets.