Himachal Calling: Brewing trouble: Farmers look up to govt for Kangra tea revival

The Kangra Valley is known for its lush green tea gardens that are as much a treat for the eyes as these are for the palate. However, for the valley farmers, tea growing is fast becoming an unviable option and many are abandoning their gardens.

Tea plantations that earlier added to the beauty of the landscape are giving a ghostly appearance at many places in the Valley.

A decrease in the demand of Kangra tea in international market has brought down the prices. Though the tea produced here is less in quantity, it is known for its unique aroma and is generally used as a blend with other teas.

Demand dips

• Tea farmers facing losses due to dip in demand in international market
• Bound by govt rules, they cannot use their land for purpose other than growing tea
• Want state government help in warehousing and marketing of their produce
• Production has fallen to 8 lakh kg per annum against 17 lakh kg in 1998
• Average tea yield in Kangra is 230 kg per hectare as against 1,800 kg per hectare at the national level

The Kangra tea has its unique Geographical Indicator (GI) that is recognised by the European Union. Despite global acclaim, tea farmers this year are finding it difficult to sell their produce in Kolkata market where it is generally sold. Exporters are not picking the Kangra tea due to a weak demand from European markets.

Sources here said the Kangra tea was not even fetching a price of Rs 200 per kg this time, even as it was sold at about Rs 400 per kg last year.

In such a discouraging scenario, the tea farmers are looking up to the state government for support. They have requested the state government to help them in storage and marketing of the Kangra tea.

The farmers maintain that they do not have any place to store and hold their produce till the prices improve. They have to send tea to Kolkata and pay to warehouses for storage till their produce is sold.

If the state government provides them with warehousing capacity, the tea growers would be able to hold their produce till the market improves.

The farmers have also been seeking the state government’s help in local marketing of the tea.

They have requested the government to help in branding and selling their produce at the properties of the Tourism Department and leading hotels in the state.

They have also requested that the government should help them get a sales counter at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, which attracts a large number of tourists and it can prove a good selling point for the Kangra tea.

Besides, they seek eco-friendly tourism huts in the tea gardens so that the farmers can have an alternative source of income.

The tea farmers have alleged that the Himachal government does not allow them use their land except for growing tea.

The tea farms of Kangra are protected by the state government and rules do not allow the farmers to cultivate any other crop on the land used for tea farming. The tea growers also cannot sell their land without the permission of the government.

In such a scenario, the tea farmers desperately need aid and protection from the state government for their survival.

According to experts, the production of Kangra tea has fallen to 8 lakh kg per annum against 17 lakh kg per annum in 1998. It is just .01per cent of the 90 million kg tea produced in the country.

With just 8 lakh kg production, the tea cannot be promoted at a commercial scale in any market. The area under tea plantation in Kangra district has also fallen to about 2,000 hectares compared to 4,000 hectares at one time.

The low yield and the lack of initiative among the local tea farmers was the primary reason behind the low production of Kangra tea, according to experts.

Presently, the average tea yield in Kangra is 230 kg per hectare against 1,800 kg per hectare at the national level.

Climate change and less rains in the Kangra Valley were also affecting the tea production.