Bid to use jute to stop Darjeeling soil loss

Calcutta, May 19: Tea planters have decided to address the problem of soil erosion in Darjeeling on an urgent basis and have sought the National Jute Board’s help to conduct a feasibility study on the use of jute to stop erosion.

Besides increasing production from the hill district of Bengal, the move is aimed at preventing the loss of essential nutrients, which are key to the quality and flavour of tea.

Recently, top officials of the Tea Board had met members of the Jute Board, Darjeeling Tea Association, Indian Tea Association and Tea Association of India. The Darjeeling Tea Research and Development Centre and Tea Research Association were also present at the meeting.

“We had given a proposal and are going in for soil conservation in Darjeeling. The idea is to cover the soil with jute textiles, which is degradable. This will help to maintain the moisture content in the soil and provide a protective cover. We are working on the financial modalities and a few pilot projects should start. While this move will not have any short-term effect, in the long term we may see Darjeeling tea output go up 10-15 per cent,” said S.S. Bagaria, chairman of the Darjeeling Tea Association.

According to sources in the Tea Board, the loss of soil has impeded the replantation of bushes. The declining soil fertility has necessitated urgent erosion-control measures to ensure the sustainability of the industry. Heavy rainfall, which washes down soil along the slopes, and the uprooting of bushes have contributed to erosion.

In a study conducted in 2011-12, preliminary estimates suggested that about 800 kg per hectare of soil have been lost during the monsoon in July where there was a 45-55 per cent slope. The extent of erosion was higher for steeper slopes. Replantation and infilling activity were also not being done properly. According to estimates, more than 30cm of valuable top soil has been lost through erosion since the origin of tea estates in Darjeeling. Steep slopes, high precipitation, deforestation and faulty land use practices were considered the primary reasons.

“The Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Dehradun, along with the Jute Board had conducted an exercise on the field application of jute geotextile in a tea plantation in Ooty. Results have been encouraging. This will be replicated here. In August, dissemination of information on the available technology will be done through a seminar with the planters,” the source said. 

The Telegraph