At the time of Independence, tea gardens covered 3,011 lakh hectares producing 2.61 lakh tonnes of tea. However, tea cultivation has shown steady progress right from the beginning. Tea cultivation does not have long tradition in India as it started in the middle of nineteenth century only, when first tea plantations were established in Assam. The aim of pruning is to have new shoots bearing soft leaves in plenty and to facilitate the plucking of leaves by women labourers from the ground. It helps in maintaining the proper shape of tea bush to a height of about one metre with about the same diameter. Pruning of the plant is an essential part of tea cultivation. Oil cakes and green manures are widely used. Use of manures and fertilizers is a common practice in the gardens. The garden is regularly hoed and weeded so that tea bush grows without any hindrance. Seeds are sown in the germination beds and the saplings transplanted to the garden. Tea gardens are set up on the cleared hill slopes where shade trees are planted in advance. Women constitute over 50 per cent of the total workforce. It is one of the largest employers of women among organised industries of India. Through its forward and backward linkages another 10 million people derive their livelihood from tea. Currently, tea industry provides employment to one million workers. This is a tedious process which requires skilled manipulation of fingers for plucking two leaves and a bud at a time.įor this purpose, women labourers are employed in large numbers. Tea is a labour intensive crop and requires abundant supply of cheap and skilled labour, especially at the time of plucking the tea leaves. Most of the tea plantations in India are found at elevations varying from 600 to 1,800 metres above sea level. However, it grows equally well in the valley if the drainage is good. It is, therefore, grown on hill slopes where water drains away easily and water-logging does not take place. In order to increase the yield, proper dose of nitrogenous fertilizers such as ammonium sulphate should be given to soil.Īlthough tea requires heavy rainfall for its growth, stagnant water is injurious to its roots. Relatively large proportion of phosphorus and potash in the soil gives special flavour to tea as is the case in Darjeeling. However, virgin forest soils rich in humus and iron content are considered to be the best soils for tea plantations. Tea bush grows well in well drained, deep, friable loams. Tea is a shade-loving plant and develops more vigorously when planted along with shady trees. Alternate waves of warm and cool winds are very helpful for tea leaves. While prolonged dry spell is harmful for tea, high humidity, heavy dew and morning fog favour rapid development of young leaves. It requires 150-300 cm annual rainfall which should be well distributed throughout the year.
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