Question

“Any setback to growers and manufacturers in the tea hub naturally translates into the industry’s overall productivity taking a hit,” Hemant Bangur, chairperson of the Indian Tea Association (ITА), told TOI. April could yet be the cruellest month, with a record import of cheap African tea this time last year setting the tone. ITA officials acknowledge that blending cheap imported tea with local produce for export would damage the Indian tea’s reputation, built over a century and a half. Another concern is the dwindling production of GI-tagged Darjeeling tea. Output has almost halved to 6-6.5 million kg from the peak, achieved in the 70s. Smuggled Nepal-origin tea seems to have filled the void. “Green-fly infestation is now a year-round threat. Last year, the impact wasn’t as much in Darjeeling hills and Assam’s South Bank as in the nearby Dooars, Terai and North Bank tea belts. But when you look at the overall crop loss, it was 10-11%. In the affected areas, it peaked at 50%,” ITA vicechairperson Atul Rastogi told TOI. “We fear the crisis could escalate this season.” Lower rainfall than usual in 2024 aggravated the impact of green-fly infestation. Rastogi said invading swarms also seem to have become immune to commonly used pesticides. - Times of India, 17 April, 2025

State any two conditions that favour the growth of tea in the areas mentioned in this article.

Answer 1

1. Topography/Sloping Land: Tea grows best on gently sloping hill sides or undulating land. This ensures good subsoil drainage, preventing stagnant water from logging around the roots, which can rot them.
2. Climatic Conditions: It requires a warm and humid climate with temperatures between 20°C and 30°C, along with heavy, well-distributed annual rainfall (150 cm to 250 cm) throughout the year to encourage continuous sprouting of fresh leaves.