PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE INDIAN TEA INDUSTRY
- A perspective of R&D need for the century
Abstract:
Growing conditions of tea in the past and present are compared, emphasizing the need for redefining the field management practices, focusing research on priority areas.
Field situations in terms of soil, shade, water management, spectrum of pests and diseases, planting material that contribute for the productivity warranting upward revision of the nutrition input, its impact on productivity needs to be addressed. Considering the labor strength and productivity, mechanization of field operations is an urgent necessity.
The manufacturing conditions warrant radical changes in terms of factory layout and machineries used, focusing on energy conservation ; producing consistent quality cleaner product , meeting the demand of the consumers.
Thus, the development and fine tuning of field management and manufacturing practices including mechanization are the need of the hour for the sustainability and economic viability of the tea industry.
Tea industry in India has come a long way during the century in terms of field management, manufacture and marketing practices, contributing to the welfare of the masses and the Exchequer. An introspection is required to understand the present status of plantations enabling research to improve upon management practices for sustainable productivity and viability of the Industry.
Principal factors contributing to variable productivity are soil, shade, water, nutrition, planting material (cultivar and population), pests and diseases, harvesting, manufacture and marketing which have evolved in course of time. Present conditions of some of these aspects vis-a-vis R&D requirement for the future of the industry are narrated:
Soil: Characteristics of soil have changed due to continuous cultivation, weed, nutrition and water management practices .Almost 30-40% of the areas suffer due to hyper acidity, low organic matter and beneficial microbial population impeding the nourishment, health and productivity of the tea bushes. Optimising the soil pH through soil amendments, buildup of humus in soil will encourage buffering capacity, build up of beneficial microbes, retention of applied nutrients resulting in efficiency and economy of nutrient inputs
Table 1 Present status of soil Reaction in plantations -South India
S.No
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Categories
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Percentage
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1
2
3
4
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pH < 4.0
pH 4.1-4.5
pH 4.6-5.5
pH> 5.6
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10
36
30
24
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Table 2Microbial population as influenced by fertilization
Microbes
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Popln in unit soil 105
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control
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NPK
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Azospirillum
PSB
Trichoderma
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10.76
3.19
-
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- -
- -
4.55 2.05
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Impact of low pH on crop and productivity
- Burns up root reserve
- Acute Mg def leading to defoliation
- Feeder roots degenerate
- Poor recovery after pruning
- Dieback of new sprouts
- Scorching of tender stem and leaves
- Failure of infills-charring of bark
- Added stress on tea and shade-dieback and mortality
- Proliferation of banjhi, multiple thin shoots
- Reduction in productivity and quality-stagnation
- Poor response to fertilizer inputs
- Micronutrients def, toxicity etc
Table 2Microbial population as influenced by fertilization
Microbes
|
Popln in unit soil 105
|
control
|
NPK
|
Azospirillum
PSB
Trichoderma
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10.76
3.19
-
|
- -
- -
4.55 2.05
|
Shade: The stand and spectrum of shade have also changed radically due to age, high water table, natural calamities and incidence of pests and diseases. Optimizing the shade stand (temporary and permanent) regulation etc will have direct impact on nutrition economy, incidence of pests and diseases improving the health and productivity of tea.

Present status of shade trees- Require optimization and replacement
Shade consolidation and regulation will amply benefit the productivity saving the valuable inputs
Present shade status both in terms of stand and spectrum are inadequate under the changed climate, soil clone and productivity. The old shade trees have outlived and require replacement through inter planting. Detailed studies are required to issue revised guidelines taking full advantage of the shades for economizing the nutrients, biomass conservation , quality improvement , minimizing the incidence of pasts and diseases.
Water and nutrition management: Deforestation in upper reaches, change of course of rivers, erratic monsoon, uneven distribution of rainfall have contributed for the environmental changes in plantations. Inadequate drainage due to outfall problems, high water table resulted restricted root growth and volume imposing acute water stress during monsoon and winter months weakening the bushes. Consequently, incidence of root diseases outbreak of virulent pests, drastically affected the productivity escalating cost of production. Excessive use of chemicals in plant protection and weed management reduced the population of beneficial microbes and fauna with resultant low productivity and high residue levels in made tea.
Status of microbial population in a virgin soil as compared to the cultivated one is shown in table3
Release of new planting materials and enhanced bush population, changed soil and climatic conditions warrant rationalization of nutrition and water management practices to meet the present conditions of plantations. A long term permanent manorial trial has to be initiated and cultivar specific recommendation for each region has to be brought out rationalizing the inputs both macro and micro nutrients bringing out their interaction on productivity, quality , and incidence of pests and diseases .
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Integrated Plant protection measures: Considering the strict quality control measures and demand for quality cleaner product, evolving sound eco friendly integrated plant protection measures becomes paramount. Out break of new virulent pests, climatic changes, introduction of new planting materials, bush population, productivity and management practices aggravated the situation. Besides restricting chemical usage, field management practices have to be streamlined. Development of indigenous products utilizing the herbs and microbes deserves attention for evolving sound guidelines.
Due to globalization of the market, awareness has come amongst both producers and consumers about the chemical residues on the products. Various certifying agencies are involved in quality control restricting the chemical load protecting the environment of the plantations. As a result various bio, herbal products have come into existence in plantations reducing the chemical load although further streamlining and fine tuning are required to standardize the protocol culminating into guidelines.Neem kernel extract at 5% solution has been found effective against many sucking insects in tea plantations. Similarly, aquous extract of local herbs like, Cassia alata, Clerodendron, Vitex negundo, Adathoda, Polygonum etc are in use against pest management in organic cultivation of tea.(NTRF, Tea Board Plan projects) Similarly, root diseases, frame canker, termites in plantations are managed successfulyy using biocides like, Trichoderma,Beauveria, Pseudomonas, Paecilomyces and Metarrhizium. Still the goal of IPM is faraway in plantations.
Mechanization: Shortage of manpower is acute in plantations. Mechanisation of management practices – pruning, plucking and foliar sprays is an urgent necessity. Development of machineries, appliances and methodologies require R&D efforts to cope with the situations.
Shortage of workforce in plantations especially in Southern India is acute due to migration to the plains. The average age of the present workforce is 47years and no new influx of new force in sight. Labor shortage is also developing in Northern plantations. The stamina and life expectancy is alarmingly low due to alcoholism and poor nourishment. Unless their stamina is improved they may not be able to handle the machineries and appliances developed.They have to be educated of the need for mechanization and
motivated. Pruning and Plucking machines and shear harvesters have been developed and are used in plantations with success. However they need to be further developed and fine tuned in terms of energy saving, weight, portability, power supply etc. Simultaneosly, bush health also should be looked after through extra nourishment to overcome the exhaustion and debility. Necessary protocol and viable guidelines should be developed.
Tea manufacture is energy intensive almost covering about 40% of cost of production. This is one of the neglected areas where Urgent R&D efforts are required besides development of field appliances and machineries. Energy saving and consistent quality throughout the year achieving sustainable productivity are the main goals in fields and manufacture.
Plucking machines and appliances

Stress amelioration: Many biotic and abiotic stresses prevail in tea plantations due to continuous intensive monoculture and climate change. Exposure to stresses weakens the bushes affecting their productivity, quality of the produce and lifespan. The constraints and stresses should be identified and prompt ameliorative measures taken to restore the health and productivity.
Manufacture: Tea processing is one of the energy intensive operations which require immediate attention for energy conservation. Energy saving machineries, processes including factory layouts, alternative fuels/energy requires urgent attention for the survival of the Industry. This is one of the urgent priority areas of R&D already conceived. Energy conservation and consistent quality year round are the targets to achieve.
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Marketing: Tea being an international beverage commodity, value realization is influenced by demand and supply, quality and aggressive marketing. Development of new products, packaging, storage and marketing meeting the international standards hold the key of success and viability of the industry. Internationally coordinated steps and measures are required to assess the present conditions of plantations to develop measures and guidelines to overcome/rectify the constraints ensuring the bright future of the tea Industry.
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Summmary and conclusions:
Considering the globalization of the market and government policies and support, the Industry is poised for satisfactory growth. The tasks on hand of the R&D institutions are huge and urgent sustained efforts are needed to meet the challenges. Coordinated concerted efforts are required on the part of all players to achieve the goals.

Pic. General layout & withering
Energy saving in manufacture of black tea and consistent quality throughout the year are the priorty areas of R&D which required to be attended by the concerned institutions
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References: 1 Annual reports, Bulletins, Publications of Tocklai, TRA, UPASITRF, Tea Board, NTRF and Personal contact with the Industry Executives by L.M. Which are gratefully acknowledged.
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