Tea small growers in the Nilgiris have sought a sustenance subsidy from the Tea Board to partially offset losses due to drought.

“The nearly 80,000 small growers are now in a situation requiring assistance even for their sustenance,” G. Raju, General Secretary, Small Tea Growers’ Association of Southern India, affiliated to the National Federation of Small Tea Growers, told Business Line .

“Farmers who applied fertiliser in anticipation of monsoon have lost heavily because the fertilisers have dried up. They have lost Rs 20 on every kg of fertiliser applied because of the high cost of fertilisers, transportation and wages. Irrespective of any increase in price of tea due to inflationary trends, our real income has fallen sharply. So, we have sought from the Tea Board a sustenance subsidy of Rs 3 for every kg of green leaf we supply to help us recoup at least half the total loss suffered by us due to drought,” he said.

According to meteorological data, all the agro-climatic zones in the Nilgiris have received a lower rainfall so far this year compared to last year. Till July, Kotagiri received the highest cumulative rainfall of 31.9 cm (50.7 cm last year) followed by Kundah 30.8 cm (63.6 cm), Udhagamandalam 29.1 cm (56.1 cm), Coonoor 24.9 cm (50.9 cm) and Kullakamby 30.8 cm (63.6 cm).

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