The Darjeeling tea industry said on Saturday that it has almost lost its first flush production due to the 21-day lockdown imposed to stop ...
The Darjeeling tea industry said on Saturday that it has almost lost its first flush production due to the 21-day lockdown imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease, PTI reported. Darjeeling Tea Association Chairperson Binod Mohan said that the first flush amounts to 20% of the 80-lakh-kg annual production of tea in the hills and is also exportable.
Mohan said the first flush plucking season accounts for revenue that meets half the yearly expenditure, The Times of India reported. “So there will be economic consequences, which may increase depending on how long the lockdown continues,” he said. Presently, the lockdown is supposed to end on April 14, but it is unknown whether it will be extended. The first flush season starts from March and continues till the first week of May.
“We want the government to allow production to start since this is primarily an agricultural activity,” Darjeeling Tea Association former Chairperson Ashok Lohia said.
Indian Tea Exporters’ Association Chairperson Anshuman Kanoria said the industry will find it difficult to move past the current crisis, given that the effects of the 104-day long shutdown in the area in 2017 were still being felt. “Another disruption in supply could be fatal for the variety [Darjeeling tea],” he said....
