Tea: Global Commodity Chains and Women Workers in the Tea Production Processes of India and Thailand

Abstract

This article aims to examine the structural relationships within the global commodity chain of tea and their effects on the roles of women workers involved in tea production for international markets. India, the world’s second-largest tea producer, is a key case where women working on tea plantations have become a prominent image associated with Indian tea. Meanwhile, tea production in Thailand has expanded significantly in recent years, in line with rising domestic consumption. The study of tea commodity chains in India and Thailand seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the components and relationships at each stage of the chain. This study integrates gender role theory and the concept of labor transformation to analyze and compare the roles of women workers in the tea industries of both countries. The research is based on document analysis and interviews with stakeholders in Assam, India, and Chiang Rai, Thailand. Findings indicate that the structure of the tea commodity chain in India differs significantly from that in Thailand. In India, tea is sold through a centralized auction system where producers do not interact directly with buyers. In contrast, Thailand lacks such a system, allowing producers to market their products directly to consumers or buyers. These differences in market structure influence the roles of women in each context. In India, women primarily serve as tea leaf pickers and hold limited economic roles. In Thailand, however, women not only work on tea plantations but also participate in marketing activities. However, social practices have defined domestic roles as women's primary responsibility in both India and Thailand.