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RISING TEMPERATURE AND PEST ATTACKS
Rising temperatures, and prolonged rainless periods due to climate change have created the perfect conditions in North India for large-scale attacks of pests and diseases in the tea plantations. Pest and diseases were present earlier, but it has aggravated over the last few years. In Northeast India, the incidence of this pest was initially limited to a few areas in the Dooars and south bank of Assam but had been spreading rapidly in other tea-growing regions of Cachar, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, and Terai over the last two decades.
The major pests prevalent in North Indian tea plantations are the tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis theivora ) and Looper Caterpillar apart from Thrips. There has been a growing incidence and spread of termite infestation in North India which is spreading to new areas. An approximate estimate of crop loss due to pest infestation in tea is as follows:
Crop loss In South India per year 15 million kg Crop loss In Northeast India per year 132 million kg Crop loss in Indian tea per year 147 million kg Revenue loss in Northeast India Rs.225 crores Revenue loss in Northeast India Rs. 2640 crores Revenue loss in Indian tea per year Rs. 2865 crores per year
The cost of plant protection in tea plantations in North India has increased manifold over the past two decades reaching as high as Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per hectare. This has had a negative impact on the viability of operations leading to lower exports and global competitiveness. The export volume of tea from North East decreased by 14% in 2022.
Indian tea industry uses pesticides that are approved by the Central Insecticides Board along with the guidelines issued by the Tea Board of India through its Plant Protection Code and Good Agricultural Practices listed by the Tea Research Association ( TRA Tocklai). Currently, there are only seven pesticides that are approved for use in India by CIBRC, making it difficult for tea growers to effectively control tea mosquito bugs and tea looper. The availability of a narrow range of limited chemicals has led to resistance build-up in pest populations. Additionally, there are restrictions on the use of pesticides in tea due to the revision of MRLs in the EU, creating barriers to trade or processed teas from India to the EU.
TRA Tocklai recommends an integrated pest management strategy for both pests which includes both chemical and non-chemical methods. Plant Protection Scientists at TRA Tocklai have been evaluating several new molecules/ pesticides against the major pests through products available the Indian pesticides manufacturers and have submitted bio-efficacy and residue studies through the manufacturers to the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC). The list of promising pesticides and a few other formulations which are found to be effective in controlling the major pests are given below in the table :
Pest mane Existing PPC cleared pesticides New pesticides available in Indian market and approved by CIB&RC for other crops.(efficacy > 70-80%) Tea mosquito Bug · Thiamethoxam 25% WG· Thiacloprid 240SC (21.7% w/w)· Clothianidin 50 WDG · Sivanto 200 ® (Flupyradifurone 200 w/v): Bayer Crop Science Ltd· Solomon ® (Beta-cyfluthrin 90GL +Imidacloprid 210G/L OD): Bayer Crop Science Ltd· Token ® (Dinotefuran 20 %SG): Indofil Industries limited.· D ONE ® (Sulfoxaflor 50%WG): Dhanuka Agritech Ltd· Rogor/ Tafgor ® (Dimethoate 30 EC) FMC Corporation/ Rallis India Limited Tea Looper · Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG · Flubendiamide 20 WG · Vayego ® (Tetraniliprole 120 G/L+ Spirotetramat 240 G/L SC): Bayer Crop Science Ltd· Evicent® 45 WG (Emamectin benzoate 5%+ Lufenuron 40% WG): Syngenta India Ltd.· Sumitomo Sumipleo® (Pyridalyl 10% EC): Sumitomo chemical Ind. Ltd.
Since these pesticides do not have a label claim for use in tea, growers are unable to use these pesticides though they are approved by CIB&RC and widely used in other crops in India for the control of different sucking pests. Considering the huge crop loss due to Tea Mosquito Bugs and other major pests, the Tea Research Association (TRA) which is a public authority under the Department of Commerce has requested the Secretary, of Agriculture Government of India to kindly intervene in allowing provisional approval under the National exigency of the above-mentioned pesticides for 2 years for the benefit of the tea growers in India. As per norms followed by the Government of India, any public authority or Government body can request provisional use of compounds for up to a maximum of 2 years.
