Home ›› 04 Aug 2021 ›› Nation
Tea cultivation on plain land in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon, the northernmost districts of the country, has created a new opportunity in the economic development of the country.
The region, including Panchagarh, has acquainted as the third largest tea region after the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sylhet. Besides, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat, the neighboring districts of Panchagarh, are also moving ahead in tea cultivation.
Panchagarh, once a fallow cattle pasture and the most underdeveloped district in the country, is now filled with green tea leaves which creates eye-catching natural beauty. As tea with international quality is produced, Panchagarh tea is entering the international market beyond the borders of the country.
This year, 11.92 per cent of the national production of tea has been added from the northern region.
The establishment of tea gardens as well as tea processing factories in different areas of the district has created employment for the unemployed and improved the socio-economic conditions.
In 2020, the national production of tea across the country was 86.39 million kg. Of this, only five districts in the northern region – Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat – have produced 10.30 million kg of tea on flat land which is 7.11 lakh kg more, according to Bangladesh Tea Board’s Panchagarh Regional Office.
In 1996, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Panchagarh and talked about the possibility of tea cultivation in the plains. From then on, with the efforts of the then Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner Rabiul Islam, tea cultivation started on a small scale in the plains of Panchagarh experimentally.
At first, tea-cultivation grows in tubs, then in fallow lands. From that fruition, the scope of tea cultivation has been increasing on a commercial basis. Although initially started on a small scale, currently some 2,000 companies, including Tetulia Tea Company, and later Kazi & Kazi Tea Estate started tea cultivation at garden level.
In September 2015, the Bangladesh Tea Board launched the ‘Northern Bangladesh Project’ to expand tea cultivation and increased tea production in the north. The project is aimed to provide round-the-clock communication to tea cultivators, hands-on training on tea cultivation through ‘Camellia Khola Akash School’ (Camellia Open Sky School), provide modern technology, impart advice, supply of high yielding and quality BT series saplings at low cost and inspire new tea growers. The government has allocated Tk 4.97 crore in this project.
According to the Bangladesh Tea Board’s Panchagarh Regional Office, after Panchagarh, tea cultivation started in Thakurgaon and Lalmonirhat in 2007 and in 2014 in Dinajpur and Nilphamari districts. There are currently 10 registered and 17 unregistered large tea gardens covering more than 25 acres in five northern districts.
Besides, there are 1,510 registered and 5,800 unregistered small scale tea gardens where tea cultivation has been expanded in 10,170.57 acres of land so far.
In the meantime, 28 tea processing factories have taken licenses in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon districts. Of these, 17 are in Panchagarh district and one in Thakurgaon district.
These factories buy green tea leaves from tea cultivators and make tea from them. This tea produced in Panchagarh is sold in the auction markets in Chattogram and Srimangal to tea processing factories.
The Panchagarh Regional Office of the Tea Board said that 63,27,287 kg green tea leaves (raw) were produced in the northern region in 2014 and 14,20,467 kg made tea (manufactured tea from green leaves) was produced from these. In 2015, it was 1,18,62,026 kg and 25,21,921 kg respectively.
In the year of 2016, the production of green tea leaves (raw) was 1,74,52,793 kg and 32,06,000 kg made tea was produced from these. In 2017, it was 2,51,56,869 kg and 54,46,000 kg respectively; in 2018, it was 4,16,28,981 kg and 84,67,000 kg respectively; in 2019, it was 4,69,21,651 kg and 95,99,000 kg respectively and it was 5,12,83,386 kg and 1,03,00,000 kg in 2020 respectively.
Exceeding the amount of tea produced in the last fiscal year, this year 7.11 lakh kg of tea has been produced more.
The Bangladesh Tea Board’s Panchagarh Regional Office Senior Scientific Officer and Northern Bangladesh Project Director, Dr Mohammad Shamim Al Mamun said Panchagarh and its adjoining districts are very likely areas for tea cultivation in the plains. We are inspiring the farmers to expand tea cultivation by providing various types of assistance.
He said under the direction of Major General Md Zahirul Islam, chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Board, hands-on workshops are being held with tea farmers in different areas cultivation through ‘Camellia Khola Akash School’.
A mobile app called ‘Two Leaves One Bud’ has already been launched to solve various problems of the farmers.
A pest management laboratory has been set up at this regional office where tea growers are given various scientific assistance to solve various issues, including suppressing various diseases and insect.
“This year, small farmers have been encouraged to cultivate tea as they get a fair price for the raw leaves produced in their garden. They are taking care of the garden as advised by the Tea Board,” Dr Mamun added.
New tea plantations are also on the rise as leaf prices are getting better. This has led to poverty alleviation and socio-economic development of the people of the northern districts as well as employment of a large number of people.
