<i>Weather cuts into tea production </i>

Unpredictable weather conditions and frequent power cuts left a negative impact on the country's tea production this year.Photo: STAR

Tea production in the country fell by at least half a million kilograms in the first seven months of this year from the same period a year ago.
The reasons behind the fall were unpredictable weather conditions and frequent power cuts, industry insiders said.
Mukul Jyoti Dutta, director of Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI), told The Daily Star yesterday that the shortfall might be covered if things go well during the rest of the season.
However, it would not be possible to make a recovery in case the temperature drops too low, tea researchers apprehended.
The BTRI chief said tea is a climate-sensitive crop that needs uniform rainfall and sunshine and conditions were favourable in the past few years.
Mohd Safwan Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Tea Association, a forum of tea garden owners, said total production stood at 21.9 million kilograms in January-July, which was 22.4 million kilograms in the same period last year. The target for August also could not be met, he added.
Most tea producing areas, including the Juri and Lashkarpur valleys, suffered a drought like situation, while some areas, like northern Sylhet, experienced better rainfall this year, the tea planter said.
Chowdhury said this special crop needs an even distribution of rainfall, which was absent this year, and the region experienced frequent temperature fluctuations.
He expressed concern over the major tea producing zones that are becoming seemingly drought prone. The period form May to October is the most promising for tea harvests.
Mohammad Shahjahan, manager of Somonbagh Tea Estate, a leading tea garden, said most gardens began to pluck tea leaves late March or early April -- a delay of three to four weeks.
“We failed to begin irrigation in March-April as the natural water sources dried up because of the prolonged drought,” he said.
In recent years, the highest tea production in Bangladesh was recorded at 60.14 million kilograms in 2005, as the crop enjoyed favourable weather conditions throughout the season.
The country's target this year is 60 million kilograms. Production in 2009 stood at 59.24 million kilograms.
Tea, an important cash crop for Bangladesh, has grown to be one of the largest agro-based industries. Outside the seven newly established, small tea holdings, there are 162 full-fledged tea gardens with an annual production capacity of about 55 to 60 million kilograms.
About two-thirds of production is consumed at home, while the rest is exported. Exports, however, are on the downturn with a rise in home consumption, officials said.