Ongoing heavy, continuous rain in Tea belt to impart ill-effect on tea production

SILIGURI: Ongoing rainy spell in entire tea belt of Darjeeling hills, adjoining foothills or NE region has become a major concern for the planters. Without anything specific in hand to handle the situation, experts are apprehending 15% to 20% downfall in production as immediate effect of this heavy shower.

"But more importantly, the damages occurring to tea bushes now, will impart its ill-effect in next winter too," said Dr. D Bargohain, scientist in Tea Research Association of India.

"Contentious rainfall and cloudy sky has reduced both intensity and duration of sunshine to a great extent lowering photosynthesis, the food producing mechanism of plants. Naturally, production of leaf has drastically gone down," said Dr. Bargohain.

"Beside these, plantations in hills are standing on top soil layer over the hilly rocky base. Heavy rain cause erosion of this top soil and thus loss of plantation," he added.

According to senior planter Mr. S Seal, ideally, tea land needs adequate Sunshine during Monsoon that can dry up the water. But now it is raining round the clock. Heavy moisture in soil and air makes leaves coarse. In addition, continuous rain reduces output per worker. Moreover, at heavy moist environment, processing expense also goes up.

"Normally green leaf production rate shoots up significantly from July onwards. This year, this expected pace is absent. Though difficult to assess at this moment, but there could be 10% to 20% downfall in overall production compared to last year this season," said Dr. M. Bhattacharjee, Joint secretary Tea Association of India.

But, most importantly, "Heavy and continuous rain is making regular medication, pesticide or fertilizer spraying difficult and that's a long term compromise with the bushes. Moreover, roots of bushes are now suffocating without proper aeration due to soil oversaturated with water.

Naturally, new roots to touch deep soil layers will not grow. This will drastically reduce mineral and water suction and thus hamper production during dry season when water will go below normal level," explained Dr. Bargohain.

But, "We have practically nothing in hand to handle this situation other than praying for Sunshine," said planters.