Darjeeling tea planters facing crop shortage amid dry spell and decreased demand

Tea planters in Darjeeling are facing a double whammy with a prolonged dry spell along with relatively high temperatures in the hills of West Bengal resulting in a "crop shortage" in the ongoing first flush season, coupled with "soft demand" in view of geo-political tension arising out of the Russia-Ukraine war, stakeholders said.

Due to adverse weather conditions, wilting of tea leaves and pest attacks on bushes are also noticed, planters said.

Over a period of two decades, it is seen that there is a 22 per cent shortfall in annual rainfall in Darjeeling and the pattern of precipitation has become "erratic" in nature, Darjeeling Tea Association principal adviser Sandip Mukherjee said.

The current temperature in Darjeeling is 3-4 degrees Celsius higher than normal and that has reduced atmospheric humidity which contributes to new shoot growth, Tea Research Association secretary and principal officer Joydeep Phukan said.

Tea production in Darjeeling is around seven million kg annually. Unlike other tea-growing regions, Darjeeling tea is produced in eight months as output is almost nil during winter.

"Even if rain comes now, it will be difficult to make up for the losses," Phukan added