Extreme heat threatening tea production

Extreme heat and a shortfall of rainfall is threatening tea production in Sylhet, experts and officials concerned have warned.

They said tea plants are not getting sufficient nutrients to grow new buds due to the adverse weather conditions, which is weakening the plants.

Besides, unfavourable conditions have led to pest infestations in the plants.

However, tea producers are hopeful that the situation might turn favourable for production if it rains in the next few days and the heat subsides.

According to the Sylhet Meteorological Office, there is a possibility of rainfall after the 14th of this month, which might lead to a declining temperature.

There is not much possibility of rainfall before May 14, Shah Mohammad Sajib Hossain, senior officer of Sylhet met office told The Business Post.

Declining water level

Officials said for good tea production, the average temperature should be 20 to 30 degrees Celsius and an average rainfall of 203 millilitres throughout the year. But the temperature in Sylhet’s Srimangal was recorded at around 36, 37 and 38 degrees Celsius over the last few days, which is feared to negatively impact tea production.

Also, due to the lack of rain, the groundwater level of the tea gardens has gone down. There is not much water in the lakes and mountain ridges in the area for irrigation as well.

Although tea leaf picking starts slowly from early May, it has not gained any pace yet this year. Tea garden sources said they hope to begin picking leaves in full swing from next month.

Rambhajan Kairi, former general treasurer of Bangladesh Tea Workers Union, said tea production in the country has improved. However, production will be affected to some extent this year due to adverse weather conditions.

Meanwhile, sources at the Bangladesh Tea Board said their production target this year is 102 million kg of tea, the highest in five years.

However, now there is a fear of slight decline in the output due to the persisting heat and a lack of rain. In addition, the attacks of red spiders and insects on tea leaves have further increased production risks.

Dr Rafiqul Haque, director of the project development unit of Bangladesh Tea Board, said due to lack of suitable weather for tea production, the plants are not able to collect food properly. Due to this, sufficient new buds are not growing for production.

However, Rafiqul said he remains optimistic about this year’s tea production.

There are a total of 163 small and large tea gardens in the country, of which 134 are located in the Sylhet division.