Tea Growers Research Articles

An analysis of the determinants of productivity of Assam tea growers

An analysis of the determinants of productivity of Assam tea growers

Complex factors combinations driving tea growers to adopt ecological agricultural practices in tea gardens

IntroductionThe implementation of ecological agriculture practices in Chinese tea gardens plays a vital role in mitigating N2O emissions and addressing environmental degradation. Nevertheless, a dearth of discourse exists regarding the intricacies surrounding farmers' adoption of tea garden ecological agriculture practices (TGEAP), particularly the complex interplay between adoption factors and outcomes.MethodsUsing data of 310 farmers, this study employed complexity theories and Stimulus-Organism-Response theories, and integrated Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to explore the complex relationships between farmer characteristics, internal and external factors, and adoption of farmer.ResultsThe results show three influential paths in the Stimulus-Organism-Response model, and environmental protection attitude (EPA) and production expectation (PE) act as intermediaries. Notably, EPA exhibits a masking effect in one pathway. These paths linked closely to three farmer characteristics. Beyond the Stimulus-Organism-Response model, nine combinations lead to farmers' adoption, and four to non-adoption.DiscussionWe discover scenarios where opposing environmental states or age lead to adoption, explaining the masking effect. These combinations highlight how a favorable environment influences both adoption and non-adoption. We also discuss other combinations that lead to adoption or non-adoption. The study suggests that governments employ targeted incentives to facilitate tea farmers' transition in agriculture.

Addressing the Sustainability Issues in Tea Production in the Barak Valley (Cachar) of Assam, India, by Attending the Principles of Regenerative Farming Practices: A Ten Years Case Study on the Adoption of Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology

India is the second-largest producer of tea globally, after China. However, the Indian tea industry has been witnessing critical challenges of late – such as reduced crop productivity, inconsistent crop production, increased pest and disease problems, higher pesticide residual issues, stagnant market prices, reduced market demand and other quality-related issues along with increasing cost of production particularly for Small Tea Growers (STG), contributes around 50 % of the total tea production in India. Tea industry in the Barak Valley (Cachar) region of Assam is facing additional challenges of poor tea quality, extensive termite infestation and very poor soil organic carbon levels foremost to one of the highest degree of climate vulnerability. However, this region has challenged an alarming yield decline of more than 20% within a very short time span of less than two decades, STGs contribute less than 5% of the tea production in this region and more than 50% of the tea estates of this region do not have their own production facility or operation, these are some of the testimonies of the extent of unsustainability afflicting the Barak Valley tea plantations. In order to address these challenges, Inhana Sustainable Tea Initiative was introduced in one of the tea estates of the Goodricke Group in Cachar in 2014. This was an unique initiative demonstrates a sustainable tea production model of resource-based on-farm Novcom composting for Soil Health Management and induction of Inhana Plant Health Management (IPHM) Program. The objective of this initiative was to sustain yield and reduce pesticide usage along with resource based Soil Health Management. A 10-year study of this initiative showed that the adoption of Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology, with a focus on plant health management, not only sustained but also enhanced crop productivity in the face of declining yields in the Cachar tea growing area, significantly reducing pesticide footprint – thereby bringing the teas way below the EU standard benchmark for pesticide residue, as confirmed by colorimetric assay tests. This prolonged 10-year study clearly revealed the relevance and role of plant health development (inculcated through IPHM under IRF Technology) towards mitigation of biotic and abiotic stresses, withstanding adverse weather conditions followed by complementary and synergetic role of Inhana Soil Health Management towards higher nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency. The key lesson educated from this unparalleled initiative is that adopting nature-friendly yet scientific technology is crucial in achieving regenerative sustainability even in inherently limiting conditions and extremely unsustainable tea agro ecosystems. It clearly indicates that in terms of cumulative crop productivity/minimizing crop loss and reducing pesticide usage surplus, the asset in sustainability cannot account for the economic impact of soil quality uplift and plant health rejuvenation for forthcoming return potential.

Exploratory studies of tea seed & tea fruit shell (Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze for their value addition

The current study planned to explore the opportunity associated with the tea seeds and tea fruit shell in terms of their utilization as seeds are of no economic importance in tea plantations. As per the reports, tea growers shifted towards vegetative reproduction, and since then there has been a generation of tea seeds and commercial tea plants grown in tea plantations for the leaves, which is unable to find any appropriate use. Tea seeds have previous reports of their oil analysis but there is no report on tea fruit shell utilization. The current studies indicated that fruit shells are more useful than tea seeds considering their bioactives and associated medicinal potential. The current study confirmed that tea fruit shell is highly rich in polyphenolic content and its antioxidant activity is similar to the standards like gallic acid and trolox used in the DPPH and ABTS assays. In addition, fruit shells also showed the presence of an exemplary quantity of catechins which is absent in the tea seeds. Fatty acid profiling of tea seed and its shell also have remarkable differences in the fat constituents as the fruit shell showed the presence of an adequate quantity of Myristic and lauric acid. Hence, the present study confirmed that despite being waste generated from tea plantations, tea fruit shell has vast opportunities to work on accessing their medicinal potential in the future.

A Study on the Impact of Covid 19 on Tea Plantation Sector in India

Abstract: COVID-19 has had a significant impact on tea farmers all around the world, owing to national lockdowns and social distancing measures. The tea market is experiencing uncertainty as a result of export and import limitations, and growers are adopting emergency steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in tea communities. In March and April, India, the world's secondlargest tea grower, imposed tight lockdown measures that halted all agricultural activity for several weeks. Tea gardens and small tea growers have just resumed tea production and export, however the lockout has had a substantial impact on tea producers and smallholder livelihoods. This paper tries to examine the impact of COVID 19 on tea plantation sector in India.

Review of Climate Change's Impacts on Tea Quality


 
 
 Subsequent to water, tea is the most consumed beverage worldwide. Tea could be identified as one of the oldest drinks prevailing since prehistorical era. This article's objective is to expedite that there is any significant impact on the major four aspects of Tea namely quality—aroma, taste, color, and yield with climate change. While observing on how climate patterns affect the Tea yield and quality, Tea farmers who has long cultural traditions of managing tea plantations are among the most knowledgeable people according to the literature review. Warmer temperatures, increased weather unpredictability such as higher rain variability, and altered plant phenology, such as earlier bud burst, are just a few of the reported alterations. These tea growers assert that such weather variations directly affect commercial tea gardens. An early tea harvest is linked to higher temperatures. Extreme droughts, which are thought to have become more common recently, are associated with drier tea leaves with less blossoming. It is also said that tea harvested during a drought has a substantially stronger flavor and scent. Farmers report that tea harvested during exceptionally rainy periods has lovely leaves and increased blooming but a relatively watered-down flavor and scent. The drought this spring has benefited tea production since consumers enjoy the robust aroma and sticky-sweet aftertaste of the beverage. In the absence of any other changes, a rise in average temperatures imposed on by global warming will lessen the production of tea plantations. Climate change will have a higher impact on tea yield than any other tea characteristics, such as aroma, taste, or color. In addition to immediate benefits such research studies, actions to lessen the vulnerability of tea plantations to heat and precipitation variability will also aid in climate change adaptation.
 Keywords: Climate Change, Aroma, Color, Taste, Yield
 
 

Storm in a teacup: Empire products, blended teas, and origin marking debates in 1920s Britain

This article uses the origin marking of tea as a case study to examine contemporary debates on imperial preference and ‘soft’ trade protection. The case integrates three themes affecting the UK business environment during the 1920s: protectionism, imperial tariff preference, and consumer choice. We discuss the extent to which consumers’ tea purchases were influenced by proprietary brand, or geographical origin. Our analysis focuses on the legislative framework provided by the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, mandating origin marking for specific imported foodstuffs. Contrary to the established view, we demonstrate how product quality in the supply chain of tea consumed in the UK was determined not by the producers (tea growers), but by the major UK-based blenders. We argue that UK consumers were unable to exercise any meaningful voluntary preference for empire teas. Our article reveals that the political idea of an ‘empire product’ did not always translate well into commercial reality.

Problems and Prospects of Small Tea Growers in Himachal Pradesh: A Study of Kangra and Mandi Districts

Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured or fresh leaves of camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to East Asia, which probably originated in the border hands of South Western China and Northern Myanmar. Tea has a stimulating effect in human primarily due to its caffeine content. Tea production in small holding has been growing worldwide. The contribution of small tea plantations has been growing significantly and currently shares a good proportion in the total tea production in the country. The small tea growers (STGS) are an alternative tea model of tea cultivation that fosters the growth of entrepreneurship and provides both direct and indirect employment. Emergence of small tea growers (STGs) has made the country self-reliant in the production of the beverage and to meet domestic requirements and exports. STGs have also helped local economic conditions and livelihood of the people in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The land holding of 96 percent of Small Tea Growers of Himachal Pradesh is less than 0.5 hectare. The average annual production of tea is around 10 lakh kg of which 4000kg tea is exported to the UK, Germany and France. Himachal Pradesh Small Tea Growers contribute 59.2 percent of the total production. The present study is an attempt to identify major problems and future prospects of small tea growers in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The study is descriptive and analytical in nature for which data have been collected through primary as well as secondary sources. The study found major problems faced by Small Tea Growers like, lack of subsidy, high cost of transportation, high labour rates, high labour turnover, lack of knowledge, high effect of climate changes, low quality of tea leaves etc. The study highlighted significant suggestions to overcome the major problems faced by Small Tea Growers and to improve the production of Small Tea Growers.

Analyzing alternative food networks in highly-globalised and standardised agrifood systems to attain sustainability for small-scale growers: inferences from tea sector

ABSTRACT Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) are often seen as an opportunity to promote sustainability among small-scale farmers. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a greater realisation to explore more about AFNs due to the noticeable shortcomings of the globalised agri-food systems. However, understandings of AFNs from developing countries and in the context of highly-globalised and standardised agrifood systems are limited. In this study, we seek to explore the nature of AFNs and their development considering the tea sector. While doing so, we consider diverse perspectives from the AFN literature to critically discuss the case of the small-scale organic tea growers from two globally renowned tea-producing regions, Darjeeling and Assam in India. We adopt a mixed method approach, i.e. qualitative and quantitative approaches. We found that the differences in the spatial, economic, and sociocultural characteristics, which drive the development of AFNs in a given region, may result in significant differences in the very nature of the existence of the AFNs. The differences also lead to a diverse set of AFN participants. Accordingly, we suggest that attempts to develop resilient AFNs should consider the heterogeneities within and between the AFNs in different regions, even though the AFNs emerge under the same dominant regime. Further, local entrepreneurial growers can play a significant role in promoting resilient AFNs. However, how their contribution would influence AFNs would depend on how the “local niche” created by the entrepreneurs interacts with the “dominant regime”.

Biochemical assessment of CTC-black tea manufactured by bought leaf factories from leaves of small tea growers in Terai, West Bengal

Biochemical assessment of CTC-black tea manufactured by bought leaf factories from leaves of small tea growers in Terai, West Bengal

Perception and level of satisfaction of small tea growers towards institutional role: a district level case study

Perception and level of satisfaction of small tea growers towards institutional role: a district level case study

Local Impacts of a Global Commodity: Small Tea Growers in a Northern District of Bangladesh

This research explores the Small Tea Plantations (STP) in Romjanpara and Radhanagar villages of Atwari Subdistrict under the northernmost district of Bangladesh, Panchagarh and its impact on the local farmers. More specifically, how STP was integrated in the local farming, the socioeconomic conditions of the small tea growers and the problems they face in the trading of tea leaves. The northernmost part of Bangladesh was economically insolvent before the advent of STP. Now the economic condition is growing and more lands are coming under STP. But behind this scene, there are stories of class formation and exploitation of the small tea growers. The first-hand data is collected using Case Study, KII, FGD, Semi-structured Interview, and observation. Adopting Political economy of agrarian change as theoretical framework and based on qualitative interviews, this research provides an analysis of the socioeconomic conditions and problems that the small tea growers face. The findings show that the factories create and often perpetuate these problems and thus reproduce the existing socioeconomic differences.

Conversion of Potato Fields into Small Tea Plantations at Bhotepatty, Mainaguri: Consequences of This Shifting Agriculture Through Survey and Soil Analysis

Summary Over the past years, the tea industry in India has started to suffer from various drawbacks, i.e. issues regarding low productivity and rising input costs (namely the uneconomic age profile of tea bushes across the tea estates of North Bengal), leading to a decline in the industry and dramatic expansion of small tea growers. Accordingly, the vast expansion of small tea plantations in North Bengal prompted this study to examine the purpose and outcome of such an expansion concept. In the present study, Bhotepatty, Maynaguri (the Jalpaiguri district), was considered due to an immense conversion of agricultural land into numerous small tea plantations in the region. The study focuses on the agricultural shift from potato fields to small tea gardens. Initially, a cumulative approach encompassing the preliminary survey work and analysis of soil physicochemical characteristics was adopted to assess the adequacy of this agricultural shift. The survey conducted revealed the lack of proper land preparation, land rehabilitation before planting, sound soil nutrient management, and soil testing programs after shifting (responsible for the depletion of major nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus in the tea soil, which can be resolved with proper and timely manuring practices). Sulphur and the organic matter, organic carbon and available nitrogen of the top soil were detected in huge amounts compared to the optimum values suggested by the Tea Board of India.

Insights on the Nutraceutical Properties of Different Specialty Teas Grown and Processed in a German Tea Garden.

European countries have recently started experimenting with growing and producing their own teas in small quantities, mainly for the specialty tea sector. To characterize European teas, this study investigated a set of five tea types obtained from different Camellia sinensis varieties/cultivars, representing various oxidation grades (green, white, yellow, oolong, black), all grown and processed in the only tea garden in Europe (in Germany) that focuses on all five types. Hot and cold brews were studied by measuring the total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC), the antioxidant capacity and UV-Vis spectra, also with the objective of discriminating between the different tea types and the different plant varieties. The dried leaves were analyzed to measure the content of essential and toxic elements and by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to determine a chemical fingerprint for identifying the tea varieties and types. The average levels of TPC (hot brew = 5.82 ± 2.06; cold brew = 5.4 ± 2.46 mM GAEq), TFC (hot brew = 0.87 ± 0.309; cold brew = 0.87 ± 0.413 mM CAEq), and antioxidant capacity (ORAC assay-hot brew = 20.9 ± 605; cold brew = 21.8 ± 8.0 mM TXEq, ABTS assay-hot brew = 15.2 ± 5.09; cold brew = 15.1 ± 5.8 mM TXEq, FRAP assay-hot brew = 9.2 ± 3.84; cold brew = 10.4 ± 5.23 mM AAEq) observed compared well with those from other parts of the world such as China, Africa, and Taiwan. The hazard quotient <1 and the hazard index of 0.14 indicate that there is no non-carcinogenic risk from consumption of these teas. The obtained information is essential for elucidating the characteristics and the impact of tea processing and tea variety on the health benefits of these tea products coming from a single European tea garden. This multifaceted approach would help tea growers in Europe increase their knowledge on the health attributes of the teas they grow, ultimately leading to optimization of the nutraceutical properties of these teas.

Non-chemical Tea Pest Management Practices Adopted by Small Tea Growers of Dibrugarh &amp; Tinsukia District of Assam, India

The main objective of the present study was to meticulously document the non-chemical approaches to tea pest management employed by small tea growers in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam. In response to the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the research team resorted to telephonic interviews, utilizing a well-structured questionnaire to gather information from these tea growers. Through this method, the study successfully captured and documented the specific practices, materials, techniques, and methods utilized by these growers in their ongoing battle against tea pests. The study brought to light a diverse array of non-chemical methods that have been embraced by tea growers in this region. These practices, deeply rooted in traditional knowledge, demonstrated their remarkable effectiveness in pest management. What makes these findings particularly significant is the potential they hold for future scientific investigations. These traditional techniques, when subjected to rigorous validation and refinement, could find broader application in large-scale tea pest management initiatives, offering a more sustainable and eco-friendlier alternative to conventional chemical methods. A noteworthy aspect of these non-chemical practices is the sourcing of ingredients. These materials were found to be locally available and abundant, derived from both plant and animal origins. This accessibility not only ensures the practicality of these methods but also highlights their compatibility with the local ecosystem. Importantly, these traditional practices were identified as crucial tools in combating infestations by various pests, including the red spider mite (Oligonychus coffeae), tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis theivora), and looper caterpillar (Buzura suppresseria). In conclusion, this study focused on the valuable task of gathering insights into the non-chemical pest management methods practiced by small tea growers in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam. Despite the adversities posed by the pandemic, the telephonic interviews proved to be a robust means of collecting invaluable information about these practices. The study not only underscored the efficacy of these traditional methods but also emphasized their potential for further scientific exploration and subsequent integration into broader tea pest management strategies. This presents a promising and environmentally friendly path forward for the tea industry in this region and beyond.

Factors driving the adoption of organic tea farming in the northern region of Bangladesh

Tea is a regular export item for Bangladesh, but due to slow growth in production, the country's tea exports have declined. However, organic tea has a great future in this regard. Exploring the underlying factors for the adoption of organic tea farming has great potential for the development of tea production in a sustainable manner. Therefore, our main objective was to identify factors influencing tea growers’ attitudes, perceptions, and adoption of organic tea farming in the Panchagarh district of Bangladesh. We adopted the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to investigate the underlying factors affecting the farmers' belief in the adoption of organic farming were measured based on control factors (marketing factors and cost and benefit factors), attitude towards organic farming, and social factors (extension factors) through a binary logistic regression model. Results of this study revealed that organic growers had a more favorable perception, which was significantly different from non-organic growers reading of various factors related to organic farming. Our results demonstrated that education and knowledge significantly influence the farmers to form a highly favorable attitude towards organic tea farming, which together explained 20.6 percent (R2 = 0.206) of the overall variance. Moreover, attitudes towards organic farming and cost-benefit (CBF) factors had a significant impact on the adoption of organic tea farming. Results also revealed that the predicted adoption probability was found to be higher among those farmers who had a highly favorable attitude and a high perceived CBF level towards organic farming. Finally, based on the findings, we concluded that a participatory extension program to enhance the level of knowledge related to organic tea farming could significantly impact farmers’ attitudes and behaviors towards the practice of organic tea farming.

Comparative Analysis of Hot and Cold Brews from Single-Estate Teas (Camellia sinensis) Grown across Europe: An Emerging Specialty Product.

Tea is grown around the world under extremely diverse geographic and climatic conditions, namely, in China, India, the Far East and Africa. However, recently, growing tea also appears to be feasible in many regions of Europe, from where high-quality, chemical-free, organic, single-estate teas have been obtained. Hence, the aim of this study was to characterize the health-promoting properties in terms of the antioxidant capacity of traditional hot brews as well as cold brews of black, green and white teas produced across the European territory using a panel of antioxidant assays. Total polyphenol/flavonoid contents and metal chelating activity were also determined. For differentiating the characteristics of the different tea brews, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry were employed. Overall, our findings demonstrate for the first time that teas grown in Europe are good quality teas that are endowed with levels of health-promoting polyphenols and flavonoids and that have an antioxidant capacity similar to those grown in other parts of the world. This research is a vital contribution to the characterization of European teas, providing essential and important information for both European tea growers and consumers, and could be of guidance and support for the selection of teas grown in the old continent, along with having the best brewing conditions for maximizing the health benefits of tea.

Profitability assessment of tea based inter cropping in Golaghat district of Assam

A study was conducted to find out the profitability obtained in different intercropping systems in tea gardens of small tea growers in Golaghat district of Assam.The production and income from tea, was significantly influenced by the intercrops in different cropping systems. Mostly, the small tea growers planted areca nut and agarwood as intercrops in tea in Golaghat district. Higher yield was recorded in sole tea crop than inter cropping with Agarwood and areca nut. However, sole tea crop was recorded lower gross return compared to different intercropping systems.The average return over variable cost from mix cropping of tea with areca nut (1,98,896.81 Rs./ha), with Agarwood (2,49,152.72) and with areca nut and Agarwood (2,98,201.31) intercropping system combined was recorded much higher than that of conventional cultivation of sole tea (130389.24 Rs./ha). Thus, this study reveals that mix copping system of tea can add an extra income for the small tea growers and can also act as a backup against high risk of sole tea cultivation due to price fluctuation in green tea leaves. Moreover, tea+areca nut+ Agarwood intercropping system had the highest B:C ratio of 3.06 amongst all the studied intercropping systems but, tea + agarwood recorded the highest LER value of 1.61 which suggested that though the return was higher in tea + areca nut + agarwood intercropping system, the suitable land utilization was observed in tea + agarwood cropping system.

Estimation of Technical Efficiency in Tea Farms at Plantation Level: A Review

The systematic literature review of 111 abstracts has been conducted to comprehensively compile the empirical studies of 21 complete text papers from all over the globe in context to estimation or determination of the technical efficiency (TE) at plantation level of tea production system (TPS), by adopting two methodologies viz., stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) during the period 2012-2022. Investigation from these empirical studies revealed that the average TE (TEmean) of tea growers (TG)s all around the globe computed by using both the approaches is around 67.98%, which showcased that the TGs have ability to increase the green tea leaf (GTL) production by 32.02% through better utilization of available resources and technology. The influence of various factors on TE of these TGs had contradictory outcomes, which broke new ground for future research. Computation of TE will enable an investigator to benchmark the best performing TGs in a particular area, which may be referred to by the inefficient TGs to enhance their performance.

NGHIÊN CỨU XÂY DỰNG MÔ HÌNH HỆ THỐNG ĐIỀU KHIỂN VÀ GIÁM SÁT MÔI TRƯỜNG CHO VƯỜN ƯƠM CÂY CHÈ TẠI THÁI NGUYÊN

This article focuses on researching the development of a monitoring and control system for various environmental parameters based on the Internet of Things (IoT) to assist farmers in increasing crop yield in tea nurseries in certain areas of Thai Nguyen province. The system utilizes several types of IoT devices such as humidity sensors, temperature sensors, and light sensors to monitor three parameters including humidity, light, and temperature for the plant nursery. Additionally, the study involves building a mobile application that displays information on smartphones to receive data sent from sensors placed in the nursery environment via the Internet. Users can then monitor real-time data and make decisions to control devices such as water pumps for tea irrigation or adjust sensor parameters (increase/decrease, turn on/off light, temperature in the nursery). The testing of the system has shown that it indirectly helps tea growers efficiently manage nurseries, increase labor productivity, and bring about high economic value.