Addressing the Sustainability Issues in Tea Production in the Barak Valley (Cachar) of Assam, India, by Attending the Principles of Regenerative Farming Practices: A Ten Years Case Study on the Adoption of Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology

Abstract

India is the second-largest producer of tea globally, after China. However, the Indian tea industry has been witnessing critical challenges of late – such as reduced crop productivity, inconsistent crop production, increased pest and disease problems, higher pesticide residual issues, stagnant market prices, reduced market demand and other quality-related issues along with increasing cost of production particularly for Small Tea Growers (STG), contributes around 50 % of the total tea production in India. Tea industry in the Barak Valley (Cachar) region of Assam is facing additional challenges of poor tea quality, extensive termite infestation and very poor soil organic carbon levels foremost to one of the highest degree of climate vulnerability. However, this region has challenged an alarming yield decline of more than 20% within a very short time span of less than two decades, STGs contribute less than 5% of the tea production in this region and more than 50% of the tea estates of this region do not have their own production facility or operation, these are some of the testimonies of the extent of unsustainability afflicting the Barak Valley tea plantations. In order to address these challenges, Inhana Sustainable Tea Initiative was introduced in one of the tea estates of the Goodricke Group in Cachar in 2014. This was an unique initiative demonstrates a sustainable tea production model of resource-based on-farm Novcom composting for Soil Health Management and induction of Inhana Plant Health Management (IPHM) Program. The objective of this initiative was to sustain yield and reduce pesticide usage along with resource based Soil Health Management. A 10-year study of this initiative showed that the adoption of Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology, with a focus on plant health management, not only sustained but also enhanced crop productivity in the face of declining yields in the Cachar tea growing area, significantly reducing pesticide footprint – thereby bringing the teas way below the EU standard benchmark for pesticide residue, as confirmed by colorimetric assay tests. This prolonged 10-year study clearly revealed the relevance and role of plant health development (inculcated through IPHM under IRF Technology) towards mitigation of biotic and abiotic stresses, withstanding adverse weather conditions followed by complementary and synergetic role of Inhana Soil Health Management towards higher nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency. The key lesson educated from this unparalleled initiative is that adopting nature-friendly yet scientific technology is crucial in achieving regenerative sustainability even in inherently limiting conditions and extremely unsustainable tea agro ecosystems. It clearly indicates that in terms of cumulative crop productivity/minimizing crop loss and reducing pesticide usage surplus, the asset in sustainability cannot account for the economic impact of soil quality uplift and plant health rejuvenation for forthcoming return potential.