SILIGURI: Compounded with CoVID-19 crisis, adverse weather has pulled down output of tea to lower than 35% level in its heartland at Himalayan foothills in Bengal. Entrepreneurs in the labour intensive sector are worried of the long term impact of the situation.
“Like all other corners, tea is also deeply affected with CoVID-19 lockdown. We had to go for untimely cutting of bushes during lockdown to save them. Usual pre monsoon dormant low yield spell has also began in mid May. Above all, weather is also not in our side. All these put together has brought green leaf output to lower than 35% of the usual level for this season,” said Mahendra Bansal, Chairman of Terai Indian Planters Association.
All the bushes had usual cutting and pruning during no plucking period of December-January. Following that, plucking for high quality and high price new leaves known as ‘First Flush’ began in mid February. But it had to be closed with onset of lockdown on the 24th March. By the time skeleton scale plucking was allowed again on the 9th April, all the bushes developed unhealthy overgrowth. Those had to be cut down again which saved the bushes but after causing immense long term loss for them, – explained experts.
“Bushes are now under physiological shock due to two deep cuttings at short interval,” said Bansal.
Weather has also become another deterrent factor. “Along with proper rainfall, adequate Sunshine and temperature are too important in this season. Artificial irrigation is possible, but artificial management of temperature or Sunshine is impossible,” said eminent tea scientist Dr. S. E. Kabeer.
As per Meteorological Department statistics, world’s best tea producing Darjeeling district is at 33 lower than its normal rainfall level for the period 1st March to 15th May. For last one week it has gone further down to 74% deficit along with low sunshine and major temperature fluctuation.
“The situation has a deep and long term impact on this whole labour intensive industry as well as overall socio-economy of the region. Planters alone cannot handle this unless Govt comes forward with very well structured revival policies,” said P K Bhattacharya, Secretary general of Tea Association of India.
Source: indiatimes.com
