TEA GARDEN NEWS
DOOARS NEWS: Recent reports from a tea garden manager in Dooars highlight a growing concern over the impact of pesticides on tea production. The manager mentioned that often it is not known in advance which pesticides or harmful chemicals are present on tea leaves until after they are tested.
During the hot season, tea production is down, and the plants are suffering from diseases and pests. The green color of tea bushes seems to be changing, with some leaves turning red or grayish, indicating disease and pests. Generally, the pesticides used to combat pests on tea plants are not widely available in the market, and garden managers are reluctant to use any for fear of breaching the tea council's strict directives. Recently, the guidelines have been updated to indicate that if harmful or prohibited pesticides are found on tea leaves, the entire batch will be destroyed, and strict action will be taken against the producers. After this, the tendency to use pesticides has decreased.
In a tea garden in Dooars, the manager mentioned, "Tea leaf samples will be tested, and it is often impossible to know in advance which pesticides or harmful chemicals are present." At present, the use of pesticides has been largely controlled. Therefore, the attack of diseases and pests is not being controlled. Rain has not been a lot, the production of leaves has decreased. The situation has become worse for the tea garden. The first "flash" is cutting into the tea leaves. It is heard like this in the tea neighborhood. If the attack of pests is not controlled, there will be uncertainty about the second "flash" leaves.
However, there is no opportunity for leniency in the regulations from the tea council. Tea council has a steward's saying, "No restriction has been imposed on the use of pesticides. There are harmful and prohibited chemical pesticides. These should be used. Because, the health of tea drinkers is our priority."
Before the tea industry's claim, a few more opportunities were provided before the pesticide disaster. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that the tea council must actively participate in discussions and find solutions. The Tea Council claims that in Assam's market, pesticides that are already non-chemical or harmful can be found. According to the Tea Council's claim, the use of pesticides, the amount of chemicals present, must actively engage with the Tea Council, otherwise, the production of the second "flash" could be reduced.
