17 February 2003 The Independent
BSS, Sylhet
Feb 16: Trouble is brewing in the tea industry of Bangladesh, which may have to start importing the crop unless it can halt falling production, officials warn. The northeastern Sylhet tea-growing area, a picturesque part of this densely populated country, has been famous for its tea since 1857, when the Indian sub-continent was under British rule. Tea leaves were initially distributed free to popularise the drink and draw people into cultivation.
The move was successful as Bangladesh became one of the biggest producers and exporters of tea in the world. But in the last few years production has stalled and exports have fallen.
"Production has only increased by one million kilograms since 1997 on average, when the production was about 51 million kilograms," said an official of the state-owned Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB) in this scenic hilly region on condition of anonymity.
"Unless we can increase both the number of gardens and production we might turn into a tea-importing country from an exporting country by 2015."
Bangladesh produced 52 million kilograms of tea in 2002 and nine million kilograms, or 16.33 million dollars, was exported, compared with 35 million dollars in the 1997-1998 fiscal year. Tea market sources and growers said "unfavourable weather" was hitting production and exports were dropping because foreign buyers were opting for cheaper and better quality products from Kenya or Sri Lanka.
Additionally land formerly used to grow tea is now being used for other crops which are more profitable. "Some growers are opting for rubber plantations for quick returns, thus further shrinking tea-growing areas," said Sajedur Rahman, an official at a private garden, as he drove a jeep along the bumpy roads criss-crossing the plantation. Tribeswomen in colourful indigenous dresses dot the gardens during the peak plucking season in April.
But another problem is that the tribespeople are giving up tea-picking for more lucrative work such as betel leaf cultivation.
Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury recently called for spare land to be used for tea-growing. "With an increasing population, decreasing tea-cultivable land and increasing demand for tea as a popular drink globally, unutilised land should be used for the new cultivation of tea," he said.
"Tea plantation will usher in a new horizon and bring about a positive impact on the economy," he added. BTB chairman Brigadier General AHM Touhid said Bangladesh could produce 130 million kilograms more tea through cultivating 46,875 hectares (115,781 acres) of disused land in the southeastern Chittagong hill region, bordering India and Myanmar. Officials said tea was currently being cultivated on 50,000 hectares (123,500 acres) in the Sylhet district and southeastern Chittagong district.
New gardens are being set up in Chittagong Hill Tracts area along with some in the northern Panchagarh district, where production was expected by 2010. The BTB has also started experimental tea cultivation in the northwestern Mymensingh district's Garo Hills and nearby Natore district.
There are some 160 tea gardens in Bangladesh, of which 35 are labelled "sick"-or on the verge of closing down-while another five have closed for various reasons, including financial losses due to poor output, growers said.
As well as local owners, James Finlay Plc. and Duncan Brothers of Britain have
large gardens in Bangladesh.