The Toklai Experimental Station of the Tea Research Association here has developed two clones, which are expected to be of greater quality than what is available now.

The clones, code named P-463 and P-492, have shown good results in the field trials carried out by the TES and now on commercial trial in various gardens scattered in different regions of the state.

The chairman of the TRA, Mr. Aboni Borgohain, said that the new clones would produce tea with bright liquor, bright infusion and flavour. Demand for quality tea has increased the world over and these clones would fulfill that demand, he said. He said that the cuttings were sent to the gardens early last year.

We sent these to different tea growing areas in the state, to check how they behave in different conditions, he said.

The TES expects to get the feedback on the commercial trails from the gardens by early 2002. But we are confident that the reports would be favourable, he said. Development of P-463 and P-492, by the TES comes after a decade during which no clone was developed. The station has so far developed 28 clones apart from the two latest varieties. Mr. Borgohain said that the dominant clone so far was the TV-1, which is good so far as the volume of crop is concerned, but it has strong and brisk liquor. But the tastes have changed and people now preferred teas have bright liquor and flavour.

He said that the crisis facing the industry in the country arose from a lack of quality tea and excessive stocks with fewer buyers; these have resulted in a sharp drop in prices. Quality tea has not suffered a price slump, instead it still commands a premium, which goes to show that the days of common tea maybe nearing their end. The gardens would have to emphasize on production of good tea, if they want to survive he said. The Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations, apex body of all plantation associations, has also stressed on production of quality tea.

One of the recommendations the CCPA has made to its member associations is to ensure that plucking is stopped from the first week of December to March. The leaf is hard because of cold weather during this period and good quality leaf for export of Orthodox tea is not available. Normally the coarse leaf harvested this period is dumped in the internal market.

(29/11/2000)

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