Nilphamarai: Panchagarh and Thakurgaon hold a great potential to produce world famous flavoured Darjeeling variety tea in huge quantities, opening a new chapter in country's tea industry and export. But government's efforts in this regard are too little to the needs.

Tea consumption in the country now increases at the rate of 3 per cent annually but production grows at 1.23 per cent. Tea is now a major export item but the country would soon turn into an importer if this trend continues.

This trend can be reversed and exports increased if lands in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon, suitable for growing good quality tea, is turned into greens, experts say.

Just across the border, there are vast gardens, producing Darjeeling variety tea. Following press reports that same quality tea could be produced in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon having same weather and soil conditions, Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB) experts headed by its the then Chief Scientific Officer conducted an extensive soil test in 1999 and declared that high quality tea could be produced in the area.

A BTB survey found 16,000 hectares (about 40,000 acres) of land in Panchagarh and 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) in Thakurgaon suitable for tea cultivation.

The BTB opened a regional office at a rented house in Old Panchagarh on April 15, 2001, with a Research Institute in one room.

It prepared a 20-year plan and in July 2002 started with a five-year pilot project to bring 300 hectares (750 acres) under tea plantation by 2007.

This raised interest among local people and also drew private investors from outside the districts.

Seeing the prospect for growing good quality tea, the European Commission (EC) also provided funds under two projects. One of the projects is 'Dissemination of BTRI, HYV clones to tea estates.' This includes construction of buildings for BTB office and research institute, accommodation facilities for its employees and providing transport and training. The other project is 'development of small holding tea cultivation.' The EC has given Tk 43 lakh and Tk two crore 67 lakh respectively for the projects.

The situation in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon is different from tea growing areas in Sylhet where tea garden lands are hilly and owned by government. These are rented to big companies. But in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon, most of the areas are plain lands owned by farmers, who have small holdings.

Officials concerned in Panchagarh and experts are of the view that small and medium farmers are the main stake holders in a prospective tea industry there because lands are owned by them. But they are being ignored.

Talking to the officials, representatives of some private companies and farmers who have raised small tea gardens, it was gathered that small holdings are not getting the required facilities from government agencies while big companies are buying lands.

Many farmers who initiated raising small tea gardens told this correspondent trhat their hopes have been dashed.

BTB Development Officer Amir Hossen at its Panchagarh Regional Office said BTB has classified tea growers in three categories-- small farmers having lands up to five acres (2 hectors), small holdings having lands up to 20 acres (8 hectors) and big tea estates having lands more than 20 acres.

As per BTB rule, parties interested in tea plantation have to get registered with it. So far, 223 small farmers applied for registration and 179 of them got it. Ten small holding applied and all got registration.

Thirteen tea estates applied and six of them got registration. They are Kazi and Kazi Tea Estate having tea garden on 679 acres (274.89 hectors), Dahuk Tea Estate having 93 acres (37.65 hectors), Karotoa Tea Estate having 30 acres (12.14 hectors), Moinaguri Tea Estate with 27 acres (10.93 hectors), Selilan Tea Estate having 50 acres (20.24 hectors) and Aga Tea having gardens on 20 acres. The information was provided by BTB.

Seven other companies are in the process of getting registration. They are Panchagarh Tea Estate, RDRS, Kazi Farm, Globe Khamar Ltd, Green Garden, Green Gold and Haque Tea Estate. Some others have purchased lands but have not applied for registration as they are yet to raise tea gardens.

Of the targeted 300 hectares, BTB envisages tea plantation on 150 hectares by small farmers and the rest 150 hectares by small holdings and big estates.

The small holdings and tea estates have exceeded their target and reached 388.6 hectors (959.84 acres). But the small farmers which is the potential force for a prospective tea industry in Panchagarh achieved a target of only 29 hectors (71.63 acres), according to BTB sources.

Questions are being raised by different quarters whether the vast lands suitable for tea could be brought under plantation if small farmers are not encouraged by giving facilities.

The prospect for big estates are limited as lands are owned by farmers. But the initial interest shown by small farmers are on the wane now because they are facing hurdles in getting loan, tea saplings and technical support.

According to an official survey, tea cultivation is five times more profitable than sugarcane, three times more than paddy and seven times higher than jute. But it is a lengthy process and expensive. It takes four years to get output after spending Tk 60000 per acre.

Plucking starts on a limited scale from the third year and in full swing after four years. A tea garden lasts 50-60 years and Tk 30000 to 35,000 can be earned annually from one acre with little expense, sources said.