Status and productivity of tea estates of the Chattogram tea-valley, Bangladesh

The agro-based tea-export-oriented industry has a tremendous contribution to the local and national economy of Bangladesh. This study was conducted through field observation and a semi-structured questionnaire survey to investigate the present status and role of tea estates on the local and national economy, situated in the Chattogram tea-valley of Bangladesh. The study revealed that the overall production and management of the surveyed tea estates were satisfactory. In the case of the surveyed tea estates, the study also revealed an average of 19% and 13% increases in tea production and yield respectively compared to the previous year. The tea estates were found committed to maintaining the standard of the processed tea which ensured a higher auction price of the processed tea. Besides, percentage increases of the area of the tea estates were satisfactory enough to comply with the rules of the Bangladesh Tea Board. Contrarily, the study also identified some common problems in the surveyed tea estates, specifically a shortage of workers, lack of raw materials, capital, and modern machinery, land-use conflicts, etc. which hinder the production of the tea estates of the Chattogram tea-valley. The study also recommended several effective actions to eradicate all constraints which originated from the tea estates of the Chattogram tea-valley, Bangladesh.