Drought-like situation affects tea industry of Assam

JORHAT: "The year 2021 has been an unusual year so far for the Assam tea industry as far as tea production is concerned. A study has been carried out to assess the crop loss due to the impact of prolonged drought-like situation. This study has also taken into account the rainfall received in the last few days," said Bidyananda Barkakoty, adviser, North Eastern Tea Association (NETA), in a press release.

"Tea industry of Assam is facing tough times again this year. Last year, the tea industry suffered due to lockdown and this year severe deficit of rainfall in the early part of the season has caused havoc in tea production," said Sunil Jallan, chairman of NETA.

"Due to very low crop till May and likely impact in crop for June as well, there has been huge revenue deficit for Assam tea industry," said Nalin Khemani, Chairman Bharatiya Cha Parishad (BCP).

"Extreme weather fluctuations both in terms of temperature and rainfall have impacted the growth of tea leaves severely. Temperature drop from 34 to 19 degrees centigrade coupled with hardly any sunshine for the last one week, preceded by temperatures above 34 degree centigrade is playing havoc with the crop," said Mrigendra Jalan, adviser of BCP.

"We do not remember facing such a prolonged drought in the last 30 years. Apart from the huge loss of crop due to rainfall deficit, the drought at the very beginning of the tea season has also delayed the application of fertilizers by around two months. This will only add to the loss of crop during the ensuing peak harvesting months," said Manoj Jallan, former chairman of NETA.

"As per our study, the crop deficit from January to May this year will be about 60 million kg compared with the same period in the year 2019. We have not compared crop figures with the year 2020 because last year the crop deficit from January to May was 78 million kg due to COVID lockdown. In percentage terms, the crop deficit from Jan to May this year will be about 40 per cent compared to same period in 2019," said Barkakoty.

The average rainfall deficit is about 45 per cent from January to April this year compared with the same period last year in the main tea growing districts of Assam-Golaghat to Tinsukia. Nowadays rainfall is highly localized and there is difference in quantum of rainfall within few kilometres of distance.

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