GUWAHATI, March 6 � Tea growers should be careful against injudicious use of chemical pesticides to get rid of residual toxicity which may lead to rejection of black tea in-voice abroad, recommended experts taking part in a national seminar on tackling pests, organised by the Tea Research Association (TRA), Tocklai at its Tocklai Tea Research Institute.
According to a press release issued by the TRA, the experts suggested use of safer biological components, like microbials, botanicals and extensive manipulation of cultural practices as components of integrated pest management strategies which will help in reducing the load of chemical pesticides. Moreover, they said biological products, mainly microbials having CIB registration for use in other crops, may be considered for use in tea till the formal label claim extension is obtained.
They further recommended that the required data generation of new pesticide molecules for submission to CIB should be taken up on a priority basis by the TRIs.
In the seminar, a number of experts from the Western countries as well as the nation, assured support to Assam tea industry in tackling the issue of maximum residue level (MRL) of pesticides, which is haunting the Assam tea industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Thomas Henn, chairman of the Technical Affairs of European Tea Committee, presented the new emerging issues in European Union relating to tea and sought the assistance of TRA to tackle the issues.
Scientists from the CABI, United Kingdom also attended the seminar and presented papers in the technical sessions. Dr PS Phogat, Secretary, Central Insecticide Board, Government of India detailed the registration process of the chemicals and assured all help in bringing in new safer molecules for the tea industry. Dr D Kanungo, chairman, FSSAI MRL Committee, chaired a session and stated that he will set MRLs on pesticides once he receives data from the TRA.
A total of five technical sessions were held in the seminar, covering areas like pest and disease management, weed control, regulatory aspects, etc. Eminent scientists in the field of plant protection, including Dr Nirmal Sahai of SRISTI Sanshodhan Laboratory, Ahmedabad, Dr A Gulati from IHBT, Palampur, Dr Jayanta Deka from Assam Agricultural University, Dr BK Barthakur, Dr AK Barooah, Dr S Baisya, Dr A Babu from TRA, presented papers on different issues of tea plant protection. The technical sessions were chaired by Prof AN Mukhopadhyay, former VC, AAU and DG, TRA; Dr N Muraleedharan, Director, TRA and Dr B Radhakrishnan, Director, UPASI.
The two-day seminar was inaugurated by MGVK Bhanu, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister (Home & Political Affairs), Government of Assam and former Chairman, Tea Board of India on February 26. It was also attended by Arun N Singh, chairman, TRA, PK Bezboruah, Vice-Chairman, TRA and Joydeep Phukan, Secretary, TRA.
Bhanu, who was the man behind the introduction of the PPC, said that the image of Assam tea has to be protected at all costs and the Government of Assam is working on training small growers with the help of TRA in this venture. The seminar was attended by more than 300 delegates from leading tea companies, pesticide manufacturers, research institutes and the universities from across the country.
With Tea Board of India introducing the Plant Protection Code (PPC) from January 1, 2015, which will cover all tea producers, including small tea growers, the seminar assumed much significance.