The Hindu Business Line : Tea body identifies alternative crops

Alternative crops
Jatropha plants can be used as shade tree in tea gardens.
Rubber and tea plants can co-exist without interfering each other.
Cultivation of various species of herbs in the non-tea areas of tea garden.

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Kolkata Feb. 14 Responding to the West Bengal Government's request for examining the scope of crop diversification in tea gardens, the Tea Association of India (TAI), having membership of about 200 tea companies with gardens in Assam and northern part of West Bengal, has identified alternative crops such as jatropha, rubber, medicinal herbs, black pepper and mushrooms which can be produced in tea garden areas.

Diversification

In a statement submitted to the authorities concerned in the State Government, the TAI, however, has made it clear that the success of crop diversification programme will depend on various factors such as area to be available for undertaking cultivation of crops, location, type of soil, rainfall, the demand and supply of irrigation facilities, availability of seeds and plants, logistics, marketing, price, marketing, participation of labour and capping it all, support from government at all levels, both State and Centre.

Alternative crop

While the choice of alternative crop and the area of tea garden to be utilised for the purpose should be left to the respective management of the garden, the government should provide the guidance and assistance, if necessary, through various commodity boards, it has been suggested.

Jatropha, it is pointed out, can be grown anywhere and in all climatic conditions and its requirement of water is low. Also, the jatropha plants can be used as shade tree in tea gardens. Besides, jatropha oil can be used as a substitute for diesel.

Co-existence

The rubber plantation, TAI points out, can be taken up in tea gardens because soil and climatic conditions in northern part of West Bengal have been found to be ideally suited for it.

A major advantage of rubber plantation is the inter-cropping, i.e. both tea and rubber can co-exist without interfering each other. Also, the efficient use of land and judicious deployment of labour can be achieved, it is felt.

Considering the steadily rising demand for herbal medicines, TAI feels that cultivation of various species of herbs can be taken up in non-tea areas of a tea garden.

Black pepper can be grown on shade trees and mushroom production, profitable and labour-intensive, does not require much area.

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