Small-scale tea cultivation project in CHT yet uncertain
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Our Correspondent
CHITTAGONG, Aug 27 : The small-scale tea cultivation project, being implemented by the Tea Board at the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), has become uncertain, said sources.
The five-year project, costing Tk 49.2 million, was undertaken in 2003 with the financial assistance of the European Union.
Under the project, 300 hectares of privately owned hilly land was planned to be brought under tea cultivation, with 100 hectares each in Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts. The project was scheduled to be completed by June 2008.
The poor 'jum' cultivators of the CHT region were targeted to be brought under the project to eradicate their poverty. However, no 'jum' cultivator was found in Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts who were interested in the tea cultivation project.
As a result, the implementation of the project was delayed for two years. It began only in 45 hectares of land in June 2005 in Bandarban. Almost all of the 45 farmers, whose lands were brought under the project, are influential political leaders and financially solvent, said concerned sources.
Meanwhile, a number of small-scale tea garden owners said, the poor cultivators could hardly succeed through the project, as tea cultivation needed huge investment of capital and involvement of labour.
Besides, the soil experts and agri-scientists said, the CHT region had been proved suitable for horticulture rather than tea cultivation. But the farmers were being driven towards a wrong direction, they added.
On the other hand, the Tea Board officials expressed their firm opinion that the soil and climatic condition of the region was very suitable for tea-cultivation.
CHITTAGONG, Aug 27 : The small-scale tea cultivation project, being implemented by the Tea Board at the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), has become uncertain, said sources.
The five-year project, costing Tk 49.2 million, was undertaken in 2003 with the financial assistance of the European Union.
Under the project, 300 hectares of privately owned hilly land was planned to be brought under tea cultivation, with 100 hectares each in Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts. The project was scheduled to be completed by June 2008.
The poor 'jum' cultivators of the CHT region were targeted to be brought under the project to eradicate their poverty. However, no 'jum' cultivator was found in Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts who were interested in the tea cultivation project.
As a result, the implementation of the project was delayed for two years. It began only in 45 hectares of land in June 2005 in Bandarban. Almost all of the 45 farmers, whose lands were brought under the project, are influential political leaders and financially solvent, said concerned sources.
Meanwhile, a number of small-scale tea garden owners said, the poor cultivators could hardly succeed through the project, as tea cultivation needed huge investment of capital and involvement of labour.
Besides, the soil experts and agri-scientists said, the CHT region had been proved suitable for horticulture rather than tea cultivation. But the farmers were being driven towards a wrong direction, they added.
On the other hand, the Tea Board officials expressed their firm opinion that the soil and climatic condition of the region was very suitable for tea-cultivation.