As twilight descends upon the verdant tapestry of the Dooars and Terai regions, a crisis unfolds beneath the lengthening shadows.
The once-thriving tea industry, a cornerstone of the local economy, grapples with unprecedented challenges brought on by unrelenting weather patterns.
A prolonged dry spell that began in October 2023, coupled with erratic rainfall distribution, has cast a dark cloud over the future of tea cultivation.
Production has been halved, threatening the very viability of the gardens.
The Tea Board of India paints a grim picture, with key regions like Assam and West Bengal experiencing significant declines.
Assam's production has plummeted by 40% compared to March 2024, while West Bengal witnesses a concerning 23% dip.
The culprit behind this crisis is the unrelenting weather.
Low rainfall and scorching temperatures have led to widespread wilting of tea bushes, raising fears of even greater losses in the coming months.
Experts warn that without timely and substantial rainfall, crop losses could surpass a staggering 50%.
The timing couldn't be crueller.
This crisis coincides with the crucial first and second flush seasons, renowned for producing premium teas.
The industry faces a double blow – production has shrunk, yet prices haven't risen proportionately.
While there's been a slight uptick in average prices at recent All India Auctions, the overall trend remains concerning.
Weekly averages have dropped by Rs 6 to Rs 33 since the year began.
This stands in stark contrast to the situation in 2020, when pandemic-induced lockdowns triggered a surge in tea prices.
The Indian Tea Association (ITA) has made a desperate plea to the government for a financial revival package specifically for the Darjeeling tea sector.
This proposal, endorsed by the parliamentary standing committee on commerce, awaits action, according to ITA secretary general Arijit Raha.
The scorching heat and inadequate rainfall have crippled production across the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam and West Bengal.
However, Darjeeling's situation is particularly precarious. Not only are yields declining, but prices haven't kept pace, further aggravated by an influx of cheaper tea from Nepal.
Raha emphasises that without a financial relief package, the very survival of the Darjeeling tea industry hangs in the balance.
The ITA bolsters its case with data – north India's tea production for the first quarter of 2024 is down by over 21 million kg, while all-India production has dipped by more than 13 million kg. West Bengal alone has witnessed a decline of 7.52 million kg.
The price woes extend beyond production figures.
Both north and south India witnessed a significant decline in average auction prices throughout 2023-24.
The all-India average price dropped by a concerning Rs 14.81 per kg compared to the previous year.
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