Kangra Tea Business Declines
Sunil Sharma
Tea farming used to be practised in Himachal Pradesh since British rule. But bad times for tea growers started with the advent of industrialisation and introduction of MNREGA scheme in Himachal. According to figures tea farming in past was practised on 4000 acres of land in Himachal. But in past ten years this figure has reduced to 2200 hectares of land. About 400 people are associated with tea cultivation. This include only a handful of big tea growers while rest belongs to low and middle categories. Maximum of tea gardens are located in the periphery of Palampur town. However, small scale tea growers associated with this business are worst sufferers. And the reason responsible for their sufferings is the acute shortage labour force for tea farming. Timely plucking of tea leaves has become extremely difficult due to shortage of labour. Local people are totally alienated from the job available in tea cultivation due to easy work and better pay under MNREGA. Second, the tea production in Himachal is not on that much large scale that businessmen can reap big profits by its marketing.
1200 Hectare Tea Gardens Unused
About 1200 hectare of land under tea gardening is lying unused in Himachal. This portion of land can be used to produce approximately 2.50 lakh kilogram of tea. But to achieve this, state government and agriculture department will have to take an initiative. This will not only help in strengthening state’s economy, but Himachal’s tea will bring recognition for the state at national and international level. Major reasons responsible for fall in tea production in Himachal are problems confronted by tea gardeners in marketing of their produce, ignorance and state government’s apathy. The state government has not been able to invest much in this sector due to financial constraints.
Tea On 1000 Hectares Only
At present tea farming is practised in 1000 hectares of land. The total annual tea production in Himachal stands at eight lakh kilograms. The tea production can further be increased by 2.50 lakh kilograms. However emphasis on quality also needs to be taken care of while focusing on increasing tea production so that tea gardeners could get good price of their produce.
Similar To Darjeeling Tea in Taste
Maximum of tea gardens that are on the stage of devastation lies in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The present and former state governments during their tenure made a blueprint of tea gardens expansion in Chamba and Jogindernagr, but those expansion plans remained confined to files only. Kangra tea is somewhat similar to Darjeeling tea in taste. But Kangra tea is cheaper by uto 12% as compared to Darjeeling and Kerala tea. The brand name of Kangra tea could be made popular by increasing tea production.
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