Panchagarh growers expect 10m kgs tea this year

PANCHAGARH, Dec 18 (UNB): Tea growers in the district expect the highest-ever tea production of 10 million kgs (10,000 tonnes) this year against last year's 8.1 million kg, thanks to favourable weather conditions.

Alongside the very well-known tea gardens of Sylhet, tea planters in Panchagarh are showing growing interest in its cultivation as the district has come in the limelight with its gradual increased tea output.

Dr Mohammad Shameem Al Mamun, project director of Northern Bangladesh Project of Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB), told the news agency that 5.44 million kgs of tea was produced in the district in 2017 and 8.1 million kgs in 2018.

"We expect to produce more than 10 million kg in the district this time," he said adding that they have already produced 9.0 million kgs this season.

Meanwhile, a meeting on 'Supply of Raw Tea Leaves and Present Situation' held recently at the Deputy Commissioner's office fixed the minimum raw tea price at Tk 16.80 per kg.

The meeting also decided to keep the tea factories shut from December 31 to March 01.

According to Bangladesh Tea Board's Panchagarh office, tea cultivation started in the district in 2000 and farmers are currently growing tea on 5,595 acres of land.

There are eight registered large tea gardens and 18 unregistered ones in the district in addition to 15 tea factories for processing tea.

Dr Shameem said they have been supplying tea plants to the registered growers at a low price and arranging training sessions for them.

The farmers in Panchagarh are showing growing interest in tea cultivation as it brings more profits for them with less hassles compared to other crops, he added.

Shameem said BTB authorities have launched a mobile app named 'Duti Pata Ekti Kuri' for farmers under the government's a2i Programme where any information on tea cultivation is available.