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A Case Study on Tea Production at Northern Bangladesh

M. Ahmed
Director (PRL)
Bangladesh Tea Research Institute, Srimangal, Moulvibazar, Bangladesh

T. Ahmed
Principal Scientific Officer,
Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Tea Research Institute, Srimangal, Moulvibazar, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The history of tea production in Bangladesh is more than 150 years old and it was concentrated mainly in greater Sylhet and Chittagong districts. To meet up the domestic consumption as well as to export this commodity, it was a challenge to increase the total production of tea through cultivating in new areas. And so in 2000 A.D, tea plantation was introduced in northern Bangladesh particularly at Panchagarh. Within a short period of time, about 1,500 ha land is added to the total tea extent and contributing more than 2.5 million kg made tea in the national production.

Keywords: Tea, Northern Bangladesh, Small holders

Location: Panchagarh, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Tea

Objectives:

To study on Tea Production at Northern Bangladesh

Methodology:

Soil and climatic condition Locally, Panchagarh is considered as the daughter of Himalaya. Being the foot hill of Himalaya, a vast area of this zone is under plain land. The physio-chemical properties of soil are favourable for tea cultivation e.g. soil texture (sandy loam), pH (4.5-5.5), organic matter (1-2%), nitrogen (0.1-0.2%), available phosphorus (10-30 ppm), potassium (40-80 ppm), calcium (100-150 ppm) and potassium (15-30 ppm). As the area is closer to the Himalaya, during the winter minimum temperature goes down at about 8 ⁰C and during the summer maximum temperature is as high as 45 ⁰C. The average annual rainfall is about 1600 mm which is enough for tea cultivation but this rainfall is not uniformly distributed. To minimize the effect of high temperature and drought, growers are providing dense shade in their plantations and applying water through irrigations. Growers who are capable, using sprinkler irrigation system but most of them are applying water through flood irrigation system with shallow pump of 4.0-4.5 HP. In this area, it is the major threat to save the tea bushes from drought. Like the temperature and rainfall, relative humidity of the atmosphere also varies heavily (55-90%). Planting materials used for tea Being a newly planted tea area, all most 100 per cent tea of Northern Bangladesh is under clonal tea. Hence the average yield of tea and its quality are better than the traditional tea of Bangladesh. Among the 18 tea clones released from Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI), growers are mainly cultivating BT2. As this area is lying with the Indian border of West Bengal, many Indian clones are available here particularly the Tocklai varieties e.g. TV23, TV25 and TV26. In 2015, a total of 2521,921 kg tea was manufactured in six tea factories. In 2015, average yield of tea in this area was 2,500 kg/ha which was significantly higher than the national average yield 1,270 kg/ha. Types of small holding tea cultivation in Northern Bangladesh It was planned to plant tea in Panchagarh in 1999 and it was implemented in the main field plantation in 2000. Tea growers in Northern Bangladesh are classified into three categories e.g. Small growers (belonging tea land of <2.0 ha), Small Holders (belonging tea land of 2.0-8.0 ha) and Tea Estates (belonging tea land of >8.0 ha). At the end of 2015, total tea plantation of this area is 1,513.83ha. All the harvested green leaf are carried to the bought leaf factory for manufacturing where growers are paid fixed and reasonable price. Green leaf price of tea is fixed and monitored by a committee which is regulated by Bangladesh Tea Board and the rate depends mainly on the auction market. Area and production of tea in Panchagarh Though plantation of tea in Panchagarh started in 2000 A.D, a bought leaf factory was established for growers in 2004 which added a new dimension for growing more tea in this region. From 2005 and onwards, tea growers can sell their harvested green leaf to the bought leaf factory. For increasing the plantation of tea, number of bought leaf factory has also been increased. At present in Panchagarh, six factories are running in full swing during the cropping season and the number will be more during the coming season. Consequently, yield and production also increased. If it is shown the tea plantation area and the production by a figure, it is easily evident that both have upward trends.

Source of Information: Tea J. Bangladesh, 44: 34-39, 2015 ISSN: 0253-5483

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Small holding tea cultivation concept has showed a vista for relieving the unemployment opportunity of northern Bangladesh. More than 15,000 peoples are getting benefit directly or indirectly from this initiation. Feasibility study showed that about 16,000 ha land area is suitable for tea cultivation in Panchagarh. Among this area only about 1,514 ha is under actual tea cultivation. Hence, it has still enough room to extend our tea area and ultimately the production. Bangladesh Tea Board is also playing a major role for increasing tea through providing appropriate technologies by BTRI scientists and supplying tea plants to the growers by different projects.

Knowledge Management: Journal