Tea farming on plain land changing northern economy

The boosting of tea farming as nonconventional agriculture is bringing lucrative profits to farmers alongside creating huge jobs improving the living standard of thousands of people in five northern districts.

Officials of Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB) at its Panchagarh Regional Office said tea cultivation on plain lands is rapidly expanding on the ‘Kartoa Valley’ ecological zone comprising five northern districts changing the rural economy.

“Over 30,000 people, mostly women, are earning better wages from farm- activities and plucking tea-leaves to lead a better life in Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts of the valley,” he said.

As a result of expanding tea farming, the ‘Kartoa Valley’ witnessed an all-time record production of 14.54 million kgs of processed tea in 2021, higher by 4.24 million kgs against the production of 10.30 million kgs of processed tea in the previous 2020 year.

“Owners of nine registered and 21 unregistered tea gardens and 8,067 small holders cultivated tea on 11,434 acres of land in 2021, higher by 1,264 acres against 10,170 acres of land in 2020,” Shameem said.

On account of thriving tea farming, the production of green tea leaves stood at 73.57 million kgs in 2021 against the production of 51.28 million kgs in 2020 in the valley.

Twenty-two companies operating in Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Lalmonirhat processed 73.57 million kgs of green tea leaves producing 14.54 million kgs of processed tea which is 15 percent against the total national production of 96.506 million kgs in 2021.

Shameem said the then Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner Rabiul Islam planted tea saplings on Circuit House premises on experimental basis after being directed by the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit to Panchagarh in 1996.

Getting better results, a BTB team conducted a feasibility study in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon districts in 1999 and found 16,000 hectares of land suitable for commercial basis tea cultivation as prospective nonconventional agriculture.

Tentulia Tea Company Limited (TTCL) first started commercial basis tea cultivation on plain lands in Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh in 2000.

“Witnessing success of TTCL, other companies and farmers started commercial-based tea farming on plain lands in 2005 ushering in a new era in the agro-economy alongside creating huge jobs,” Shameem said.