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Tea-plantation reduced: export may face crisis |
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November 8, 2000
Habiganj (UNB)- Bangladesh may face crisis in exporting tea in ten years with domestic demand rising to consume the entire production which is unlikely to grow. "Domestic demand and production of tea may equal in next 10 years in the absence of expansion of plantation," says Mohammad Shamsul Islam, assistant manager of Teliapara tea estate at Madhavpur in Habiganj district. The tea estate under the National Tea Company is now producing nearly 7.5 lakh Kg tea annually. Talking to UNB this week he said maximum tea plants are about 100 years' and the yield is declining. A minimum of 5 percent re-plantation every year is essential, but it is better to plant more to cope with the domestic and external demand. About 2000 Kg tea is being produced everyday in Teliapara tea factory. February to August is the peak season for tea production. This year climate was suitable for tea production. Another cause of declining tea production is rising trend of pilferage of shade trees in tea gardens, said Shamsul Islam. Shade trees having mainly fuel wood value are essential for supporting tea plants. According to him country's total annual production of tea is now about 55 million Kg of which 40 percent is exported, mainly to Pakistan. An official of the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka says tea import from Bangladesh is declining. They prefer these days Kenyan tea because of favourable price. Shamsul Islam is however hopeful of expanding tea plantation in fresh areas of Panchagarh district where the soil and climate were found suitable for tea plantation. "Panchagarh is suitable for tea production. There the soil is better than Srimangal soil, the heart of tea cultivation in Bangladesh," he says. Shamsul Islam says Bangladesh Tea Research Institute at Srimangal has developed 14 new varieties of plants. Every two or three years' a new variety is developed. There are 158 tea gardens in Bangladesh of which 128 in greater Sylhet district. Tea gardens are also in at Chittagong. The official says old machinery and equipment are used in tea production. Modern technology has not been developed in this area compared to rapid modernization in other industrial sectors. Only India is developing new technology in tea sector to improve quality and quantity of tea. According to a monthly statement of Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau, some 5.75 million Kg tea worth US$7.76 million was exported during the first quarter (July-September) of current fiscal year as against 2.28 million Kg valued US$3.79 million in corresponding period last year.
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