Two-day Tocklai meet from today in Jorhat

A Correspondent

JORHAT: Tocklai Tea Research Institute will host the 35th Tocklai Conference with the theme ‘Sustainability: Challenges and the Way Forward’ on February 22 and February 23. More than 200 planters, senior government officials, tea technologists and scientists from all across the country and from other tea producing countries like UK, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal will attend the conference.

“The conference will feature nine lead presentations from invited speakers along with 28 oral presentation and close to 40 poster presentations along with seven technical sessions with a plenary valedictory session and exhibition showcasing the latest innovations related to the tea industry which will be organized at the Tocklai Tea Research premises,” said Dr. Anup Kumar Barooah, the Director of Tocklai, on Thursday.

“The theme of the conference, ‘Sustainability: and the Way Forward’ echoes some of the issues that have plagued the tea industry in recent years. Production costs have escalated to the point where the planters are often forced to sell their product well below their output cost. Climate change has brought about an increase in temperature and in the ambient carbon dioxide along with a drastic change in rainfall patterns that has led to emergence of new pests and diseases.

Moreover, scarcity of workers at the peak time and spiralling cost have called for mechanical intervention and innovation to reduce cost. Conquering these challenges is critical in ensuring sustainability in tea cultivation and through the conference we will seek to address some of the most pertinent issues concerning the industry,” the Director added.

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