Tea industry in crisis due to adverse weather

The tea industry could face major losses due to heat waves and drought.

A target of 10.3 lakh kilograms of tea production has been set for the current season. However, the disaster struck at the beginning of the leaf-picking season, raising fears that the tea production target may not be achieved.

Tea trees are dying due to excessive heat and drought. New buds are not growing on pruned branches. Tea workers and owners have become disappointed regarding the matter.

According to the Moulvibazar meteorological office, there were only 4 millimeters of rainfall from January to March this year due to the impact of climate change. The rainfall during the same period in 2024 was 46 millimeters.

There are 92 tea gardens in Moulvibazar Sadar, Kulaura, Juri, Baralekha, Srimangal, Kamalganj and Rajnagar. While visiting some tea gardens in Sadar and Srimangal, it was observed that young trees that had been pruned were dying due to lack of rain.

Premnagar Tea Garden Deputy General Manager (DGM) Rafiqul Islam said Tea gardens are burning due to severe drought. We are worried about achieving our goals this season.

Golam Mohammad Shibli, chairman of the Sylhet region of the Bangladesh Tea Association, an organization of tea garden owners, said that the tea industry is being affected by adverse weather conditions and drought. To protect it, artificial drip irrigation must be arranged.