ILAM, June 23: Production of green tea leaves has declined significantly in eastern hilly districts including Panchthar, Jhapa and Ilam – the capital of tea production in Nepal.
Industrial and farmers have attributed the drop in tea leaves production to unfavorable climate. Drop in production has left farmers worried. Unfavorable climate and lack of fertilizers and other inputs often affect production of tea leaves in Nepal.
Late monsoon, fog and heavy rainfall were the major factors that affect tea production this year, according to farmers. Although the production was satisfactory on the first flush, it fell by more than half in the second flush, say farmers.
Last year, Himalayan Shangri-La Tea Producers Pvt Ltd of Sakhejung was processing 4,000 kilograms of leaves per day in this season. It is processing only around 2,000 kilograms per day this season.
Tea production stops with onset of winter
Kamal Mainali, a promoter of Himalayan Shangri-La Tea Producers, said that his plant is not running up to the capacity due to lack of green leaves. “We don’t know the exact reason. But production has declined by more than half this year,” Mainali said, adding: “Unpredictable climate has affected tea production.”
Sanam Rai, a tea farmer from Suryodaya Municipality, said production this year has fallen by more than half compared to last year. “We don’t know why the production is decreasing drastically,” Rai said, adding that farmers like him will have to face huge loss this year.
According to Central Tea Cooperative Federation (CTCF), production of green leaves has fallen all over the country. Govinda Dahal, president of CTCF, said that tea production by his plant, Greenhill Cooperative Tea Processing Industry, has also dropped significantly.
Around 30,000 commercial tea farmers of 100 cooperatives from Ilam, Panchthar, Dhankuta, Terathum and Jhapa districts are under the umbrella of CTCF.
“Unfavorable climate has affected tea production all over the country this year,” he said, adding that farmers in Ilam have suffered the most.
Ilam Tea Producers Pvt Ltd of Suryodaya Municipality used to process 18,000 kilograms green leaves per day in the past years. This year, it is processing only 7,000 – 9,000 kilograms per day.
“Tea plants have less leaves compared to last year,” Hemchandra Chapagain of Ilam Tea Producers said, adding that rain and fog have affected production this year.
The situation is the same in Ilam Tea Processing Industry located of Shree Antu. Last year, the industry had processed daily 11,000 kilograms of green leaves at this time. This year, it is process only 6,000 kilograms every day.
Not only Ilam, tea production has dropped in Jhapa as well. Tokla tea garden is producing around 13,000 kilograms of green leaves per day this season, down from over 18,000 kilograms per day last year. Raju Sinha, manager of the garden, said that unpredictable climatic conditions have affected green leaves production this year. “Green leaves production in this garden has dropped by nearly a half compared to last year,” Sinha said.
Farmers say that heavy rainfall during winter and fog in rainy season has affected green leaves production this year.
According to Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board, Rs 2.41 billion worth of tea was exported in Fiscal Year 2017/18. Of the total exports, 5.5 million kg was orthodox tea and remaining 300,000 kg was and 300,000 kg was organic.
