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The Nilgiri Small Tea Growers' Association has appealed to the Tamil Nadu Government and the Tea Board to disburse a survival subsidy to farmers who have lost tea due to hailstorm.
“Right now, about 5,000 kg of green leaf a hectare ready for harvest till May-end has been totally lost. At prevailing prices, this works out to a loss of Rs 60,000/ha in two months.
Against this, we have represented to State Government and Tea Board for a lumpsum survival subsidy of Rs 10,000/ha. If the crop loss continues beyond two months, the ‘rush season' would be lost and the Government and Board must continue to help farmers during that period,” the Association President, Mr H. Thiagarajan, said.
“The hailstorm struck on Saturday afternoon but we could pick up heavy hailstones even today,” Mr Thiagarajan, said.
“The damage has been extensive to tea fields in Thothanadu belt spread over Kenthorai, Thummanatty, Thuneri, Morigal, Kappachi, T Maniatty, Kambatty and Kattabettu. Tea bushes remain covered with hailstones on both hill tops and valleys. During our survey, we could not see even a single bush in this area which has escaped the hailstorm,” he said.
Extent of damage
“We estimate that tea bushes in about 4,000 hectares have been affected by the hailstorm. It will take up to six months for these bushes to come for full harvest again. Nearly 10,000 growers will lose their income from tea during this period.”, he disclosed.
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