By : Mohan Verma
Ailing tea industry in the state is yet to come out from the devastation of 1905 earthquake in Kangra district as it was trailing due to declining of area under cultivation and per hectare production.
Addressing prominent tea producers recently, vice cancellor of Agriculture University, Palampur Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar and Dr. K.K. Katoch lamented that this hill state once had 4000 hectare areas under tea cultivation and claims around 2000 hectare tea estates.
Mr. Katoch said that Kangra tea is renown in the international market as it had good demands for exporters. He said that good rain and cool climate of this hill state provides favorable environment conditions for its cultivation but farmers engaged in it are adopting traditional farming.
Disclosing that 3200 hectare new area had been identified in the Chamba district to transplant fresh tea plantation, vice chancellor asked the farmers to adopt new techniques and invocations to make this crop competitive and reduce its production cost.
State have 700 kilogram per hectare production against 1950 kg of national level, he added that tea industry transect about 1500 crore business on the national level have potential to increase it upto 6000 crore.
Dr. Satish Paul said that state entered in the tea club after introducing tea plantation in Kangra district in 1949 which was eroded during 1905 Kangra earthquake and is still to come out of its affect as state could not achieve the expected tea production.
