Tocklai Report

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                           

Table 2Microbial population as influenced by  fertilization

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

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

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

 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   

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.