Heavy rainfall warning worries Bengal tea belt again

SILIGURI: After long dry spell and heavy production loss, the tea belt in northern West Bengal finally got the taste of raindrops with arrival of monsoon. But, forecast of heavy rain has once again started worrying the plantation sector.

“One can well imagine what it is to have good rainfall after such a long dry spell that started last October and continued till May end causing us to suffer from over 40% production loss,” said Mr. K K Mintry, Chairman of Terai Indian Planters Association.

“Terai or Dooars in Bengal, both of these high yielding zones have badly suffered from dry spell. Output loss was of around 30 – 35% in first flush that ended in mid May,” said Mr. P K Bhattacharjee, Secretary General Tea Association of India. First flush or of first batch of leaf after winter time no plucking period, gives highest quality output and brings in highest price for tea plantations.

Situation for Darjeeling hills, that produces world’s best quality tea, was also no different. “The dry spell caused near 40% downfall in our first flush production,” said Mr. Rajah Banerjee, Chairman of MakaiBari Tea & Trading Co. known globally for its premium quality Darjeeling tea.

However, “Monsoon arrived here in time and with a good show up. During the first week of June, we had just 16% lower than long term average rainfall that is considered as normal. We expect the whole season to have cumulative normal level of rainfall,” said meteorological department officials.

But the alarm bell has started ringing again with the forecast. Meteorological department has issued alert and warning of ‘heavy to very heavy’ rainfall in entire Sub Himalayan West Bengal for next couple of days.

Worried with the forecast, Mr. Mintry said, “It is not only total cumulative rainfall, but proper distribution of that during a course of time is also an equally important factor for tea. A dry spell, and then heavy rain, both put together may show normal cumulative rainfall statistics. But both cause heavy production loss.”