Covid 2.0: Small tea growers in Kerala face crisis
May 14, 2021
Procurement drops on slack demand while production, too, suffers because of the pandemic curbs
The lockdown imposed in Kerala following the second wave of Covid-19 has left small tea growers facing a crisis in view of tea factories deciding to reduce procurement of green leaves.
A subdued demand for tea in the retail market and the lockdown in the State has reported to have forced tea factories to slow down their leaf intake from small growers. There are around 25,000-odd small tea growers in the Idukki region, who regularly supply green leaves to about 36 factories in Peermedu, Vandiperiyar, Munnar, Calvary Mount, etc.