Dearth of rain turns Moulvibazar tea prospect bleak

FE Team | Published: March 14, 2013 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

SYLHET, Mar 13 (UNB): Adverse weather is taking a heavy toll on tea farming in Barolekha and Juri upazilas of forests surrounded Moulvibazar. Plants in different tea gardens owned by both foreign and private companies are dying due to absence of rain in the two upazilas of the district. Besides, attack of red spiders is also destroying tea plants in the gardens. A shortfall in tea production is apprehended as irrigation is not being possible for drying up of the local rivers and streams quickly. Experts fear that if there is no rainfall in the next few days, it may cause a colossal harm to tea production in the district. It is learnt, lack of rain is playing havoc with some 17 tea gardens in Barolekha and Juri. Under the scorching heat, new saplings of tea are also dying. Though there is arrangement of irrigation, it is not possible to irrigate different tea gardens regularity because of the fall in the water level of the rivers. Due to moderate rainfall in January (Magh), saplings in tea gardens started growing fast. The rain in January (Magh) was important for the tea gardens, said manager of a tea garden run by the Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB). The BTB sources said due to adverse climate and mismanagement of the authorities, tea production is gradually declining despite an ever growing demand. People working in the tea industry said global warming is mainly to be blamed for the deplorable state of tea farming in the district. With the change of time, the climate is also changing. Manager of a tea garden suggested excavation of the rivers, rivulets and canals flowing through the tea gardens, creating water reservoirs and protecting the trees giving shades to tea plants. An official of a tea garden, on condition of anonymity, said some wood smugglers are cutting down the shade-giving trees taking advantage of lax security in the tea garden areas. A portion of the foreign aid should be spent in combating the adverse impact of the climate change, opined some tea garden officials. Two tea garden officials on condition of anonymity said due to increased demand of Bangladeshi tea in the local market, the product sees a gradual decline in its supply to the international market. Harunor Rashid of Srimongal Met office said there is no chance of rainfall in the district until last week of March. Consequently, there is an apprehension of fall in the tea production.