Demand will last till people drink the brew
Syed Amir Ali Hashmi interviews S.Mohanakrishnan, senior manager, Moraghat Tea Estate, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal.
What are the responsibilities of a tea estate manager?
A tea garden manager is a person wholly and solely responsible for running the tea estate. 
His area of activity encompasses production management, tea husbandry involving plant physiology, entomology, industrial relations, labour management, liaison with various government departments. He even has to oversee purchase of materials, do financial management, cost management, collective bargaining with unions, factory management, etc.
How strong is the demand for tea estate managers? Will there be a steady demand in the future (say the next five years)?
Till people drink tea, every tea estate will have to be run by a techno-commercial person who would be a tea garden manager.
What advice would you give to someone just entering this who wants work in a tea estate?
The person should have a love for the outdoors, love for human beings, love for nature, (be) comfortable staying alone, hard working with good team spirit and a penchant for leading the good life — frequenting clubs, playing sports, etc.
What are the growth prospects?
You can start as trainee assistant manager, and after 1-12 years you can become an assistant manager, after 12-16 years a deputy manager, and then manager. After having put in around 10 years as manager you will become a senior manager. Then with experience you can become a visiting agent/ executive director.
Are there any changes that could affect the industry/profession in the near future?
Weather, natural calamities, and the day when people stop drinking tea.
Author: HT Horizon
Date: 21st April, 2010
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