Noel Manuel
Gardens of tea have finally replaced the usual cash crops that one generally gets to experience, while journeying to Tuensang via Longkhim and Chare. For those familiar with the agriculture produce in Nagaland, would unknowingly raise an eye brow at this sudden change and desire of growing the world’s most popular beverage. But tea cultivation needs no introduction to the Naga farmers and this can be justified with the recent award bagged by the State’s only tea factory at the Guwahati Tea Auction. In fact tea, like other cash crops, grown across the Naga Hills, has always been an important agriculture produce and this can be gauged by the fact of the existing small family tea gardens spread across various districts in the state.
Tea shrubs as old as 60 years and more have grown into full grown trees on account of inconsistent care and irregular pruning and this is sufficient proof of the perfect climatic conditions and richness of the soil suited for the cultivation of the best tea available anywhere in the country. And if this is not enough to show the age old relationship that the Nagas have shared with this popular beverage, then a closer look at the traditional methods of preparing tea from plucking to withering and fermenting surely deserves a national award, if not a Guinness record. Till a decade ago, Naga farmers preferred to cultivate tea in small areas and these were lessons they had learnt from their forefathers and the Britishers. Affected by labour problems including irregular maintenance of gardens and huge cost involved for various other expenses including transportation and plant viruses, it had become ample clear that this commercial crop would incur huge costs on the hills and this eventually forced many of the farmers to abandon the idea of growing tea as a commercial and viable crop. However, this did not deter them from maintaining small gardens to meet their own personal demands and more importantly produce the quality of tea they preferred. This was a small revolution emerging within individual Naga villages more than a century ago and the quality of tea, which until recently had come to be noticed, was in fact the very best even during the time of the Britishers. Tea from Assam is popular for its strength, while that of Darjeeling is rich in aroma. However the tea gardens in Nagaland have a combination of both. This is a fact and those who have been in the tea industry will agree with this.
Economic & Social Problems
The tea industry in Nagaland has experienced a very slow growth over the years and this is the fallout of poor economic sanctions and support from various agencies at the central and state level. Lack of knoweldge on subsidy and in most cases delay of the same has also been another factor to discourage the farmers from taking up tea cultivation. The State Bank of India has arrived in the form of an educator, financer and motivator for the farmers at a time when the risks for tea production are high and patience is at an all time low. Considering that tea cultivation alone would not be the means to encourage the farmers to change their focus of farming, the SBI has also financed a factory so that the raw materials transported from the gardens to the production unit do not incur transportation costs.
The recovery of loans in Nagaland appears to be a problem of the past. The tea gardens are beginning to prove this by repaying short term loans within the stipulated time of one year. The recovery on the other hand is prompting the bank to encourage the farmers to take up tea cultivation on a bigger scale and this is being seen as a revolution in tea farming in Nagaland. Tea shrubs need constant vigil from different plant diseases and they spread quickly if not attended to by exerienced hands. This is a constant worry for our farmers, who still lack the knowledge and experience that comes with years of tea cultivation and the effects it has on other plants. But the onus of tea cultivation in the state has already begun taking its own course and with the bank granting farmers the maximum repayment time module of twleve months, it can be seen as a boon for the farmers who can now rest easy and wait for the yields.
What It Means For The State
Tea cultivation has never been seen as a short term crop. A tea bush produces quality tea leaves for upto a hundred years and sometimes even more. This means that for every bush planted, a farmer can carry out plucking for 36 weeks in a year. And in every plucking a farmer can yield a minimum of 100 kgs from around 250 bushes. The leaves are sold at Rs 10 per kg to the NI Jamir tea estate at Moalenden. The profits are much higher when compared to other cash crops.
The quality of tea grown in Nagaland has earned acclaim from various tea tasters which means the future of tea cultivation is worth considering in areas that are suitable for its growth in the state. If the base is set, we very well could even think of having a tea festival in the days to come. If rice and cultural festivals can dorn the limelight of the identity of our forefathers, then tea, which has been in existence for hundreds of years in the state can also gain prominence in the state. Until the state government does more to encourage the farmers, in terms of fiance and logistic support, the scope of tea cultivation would remain confined to the limitations of private bank finances and private entrepreneurs.
Organic & Orthodox Tea In Nagaland
What is orthodox tea and organic tea? Some of you might ask. Well Any discussion of orthodox teas needs to begin with a definition. Historically, the term “orthodox” has referred to a method of producing black teas in India. But in a broader sense, “orthodox” also refers to “traditional” or hand-processing methods that have been carried out in other tea-producing countries for centuries. The idea of producing teas in a “traditional” manner is certainly worthy of investigation—in terms of the quality of tea that is produced by this method, the effect it has on the environment, and the ramifications it might have on the premium tea industry. When you ask an Indian tea merchant, broker or producer what orthodox tea means, the answer is vague, but it invariably includes mention of what orthodox tea is not: CTC. CTC stands for “crushed, torn and curled,” and by its very definition doesn’t imply anything romantic, or even desirable. Most of the world’s black tea comes from this type of production. The tea produced all across Nagaland is 100 % organic and this has given the tea growers here a slight edge over their Assam and Darjeeling counterparts. Organic tea, cultivated at the NI Jamir Tea Estate, is grown without using any chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. The benefits of which help in the abundant supply of antioxidants, which protect the cells of our body from a natural process called ‘oxidative stress.’ Although oxygen is vital for life, oxidation produces free radicals that damage human cells. This damaging, physiological process works against the immune system AND is also responsible for ageing Antioxidants help our body eliminate these harmful free radicals.
Community And Self Help Groups
Tea is a community produce which needs the involvement of hundreds of laborers. The tea gardens of Assam are dominated by the Adivasis and their presence and vitality to this industry has been exhibited on more than one occasion. In Nagaland too, the need for community farming is fast picking up in the form of Self Help Groups. The numbers within each group have been limited so that every member gets the opportunity to head the group at least once during his or her lifetime. But more importantly, it is the accountability that has restricted the numbers in each group which is generally not more than 20. In the frontline of these groups stands the Village Development Board (VDB) that remains as the link between the funding agencies and the executing agencies. This is a vital link to educate, finance and motivate the new breed of farmers who are slowly and gradually realizing the dreams of the ancestors in a bigger and more comprehensive fashion.
The men making a difference to tea farming and the lives of the farmers in the Mokokchung, Chare and Longkhim belt.
TIA JAMIR: A prominent link between the farmers and Tea Board of India, besides also being a research assistant of the state agriculture research station at Mokokchung. (photo name TIA)
BORDOLOI: Marketing and Recovery Team Leader of the State Bank of India, once posted as the Branch Manager of Tuli was brought back on account of the vital role he continues to play for the promotion of tea. (Photo name BORDOLOI)
G. SEKAR: The branch manager of State Bank of India, Main Branch, who the people of Longkhim, Chare and Mokokchung revere for his dynamic vision and committed endevour to promote tea and the farmers.
