No abstract

Tea cultivation has been playing a pivotal role in the sustainable development of the Kangra Valley (in Himachal Pradesh, India). Due to unique local geographical conditions, the aroma and flavour of Kangra tea is different from the tea produced in other parts of India, which resulted in worldwide fame in the past. Kangra cooperative tea factory which was having high productivity is facing the problem of reduced productivity due to reduction in area for tea cultivation and number of farmers supplying raw material. Presently, it is passing through a difficult phase due to certain constraints which need immediate attention for the development of tea cultivation and industry in Kangra valley. The problem does not lie with the tea, but the manner in which it is being managed, processed and marketed within India. The case focuses on analysing the major constraints faced by different stakeholders of Kangra tea value chain and evolve strategy to regenerate and rejuvenate the lost glory of Kangra tea, especially with the increased usage of geographical indication (GI). Cooperative failures, unmarketed GI Label, high labour cost and labour availability problem, seasonal demand, lack of market availability and so on were some key issues identified during the study.

The study assessed the sensitivity of weather parameters with respect to total green leaf and two leaves and bud (T & B) productivity of tea crop {Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze}. The maximum temperature ranging from 20.0 to 29.0 oC during March, May, August and September showed positive relationship with values ranging from 0.26 to 3.38 and 0.22 to 3.22 for green leaf and T & B yield, respectively. Similarly, minimum temperature ranging from 9.1 to 20.0 oC during March and July to October found positive 0.001 to 2.93 and 0.28 to 2.91 for green leaf and T & B productivity, respectively. The mean monthly rainfall amounting 52.7 to 664.7 mm during March, May, July to October and 52.7 to 488.4 mm during June, July, September and October also showed positive sensitivity with values ranging from 0.03 to 0.33 and 0.007 to 0.35 for green leaf and T & B yield, respectively. The relative humidity ranging between 41.2 to 77.3% during April to May for green leaf yield (0.32 to 1.71) and during April to May and October for two leaf and bud yield (0.00 to 1.70) showed positive relationship. So, maximum and minimum temperature between 20.0 to 29.0 oC and 9.1 to 20.0 oC, respectively with rainfall of 52.7 to 488.4 mm and relative humidity 41.2 to 77.3% are the most beneficial weather parameters for tea cultivation at Palampur conditions.