HAILAKANDI, April 11 - The tea industry in Barak Valley, particularly in Hailakandi district, has been very badly hit in the recent hailstorm. Damage has been reported in all the tea growing districts of the valley, said Sorodindu Bhattacharjee, secretary of the Barak Valley branch of the Tea Association of India (TAI) in a press release here.
Widespread damage has been reported in some major gardens, such as Roopacherra TE, Manik Nagar TE, Borojalingah, Pollorbond, Rampore, Bhubandhar, Bickrampore, etc.
Hailstorm has caused widespread damages to the plantations of Roopacherra TE in Hailakandi district and Manik Nagar TE in Karimganj district, as most of the mature and young tea bushes have been severally damaged. Extensive damages of labour houses have also been reported in Roopacherra TE.
Hailstorm is not uncommon during this season, but what has impacted the industry is the scale of damage. This is bound to retard the prospect of early flush and dent the overall production this year.
The tea industry in Barak Valley was looking forward to improved production in the year 2017.
The valley produced 50 million kg of tea in 2016.
The extent of damage has prompt this TAI to urge the administration to approach the State government to declare this hail damage as a �natural calamity� in garden areas so that some succour is received by the Barak Valley tea industry.
