The Hindu Business Line : Red spider mites threaten Nilgiris tea

A NEW challenge to tea exports from the Nilgiris has now come through the spread of red spider mites forcing the planters to go in for application of chemicals.

"The problem is that to pass through export norms, we can apply only certain chemicals. And, the application of chemicals means that we cannot think of organic cultivation. When we apply pesticides, our input costs go up. When we don't, we lose the crop and hence the returns. That explains the intensity of the challenge," Mr T. Rangaiah, former Vice-Chairman of Tea Board, told Business Line.

The problem is equally applicable to small growers and corporate estates. The UPASI Tea Research Foundation (TRF) has recorded "a severe outbreak of red spider mites in almost all the agro-climatic zones. Even estates that did not have the infestation last year have suffered damage due to this now."

The spread of the pest is because of the dry weather conditions in the district for some weeks now. Some planters admitted that the indiscriminate felling of shade trees has led to the spread of the mites.

The mites feed on tea leaves - not tender, but banjis - which wilt away. Although the pests live for a short period, they multiply rapidly. The pest is seen in enormous proportions in the Kotagiri tea belt areas including main Kotagiri, Kil Kotagiri, Aravenu and Thattapallam. "The production cost, on application of chemicals, goes up by not less than 10 per cent depending upon the intensity of the infestation. Many small growers are, therefore, waiting for the rains to come and cool the fields thereby naturally driving away the mites," said Mr M. Bhojarajan, President of the Nilgiris Small Tea Growers Association.

He said if the mites were not controlled, the crop loss would be over 20 per cent.

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