The Nilgiris : The prevailing harsh weather conditions in the Nilgiris has adversely affected the tea plantations, as acres of tea leaves are infested with Blister blight disease.
The Nilgiris : The prevailing harsh weather conditions in the Nilgiris has adversely affected the tea plantations, as acres of tea leaves are infested with Blister blight disease.
The sprawling tea estates in the Nilgiris are known for their world-class tea leaves. Bestowing employment for thousands of people in and around the District, the tea industry is facing the wrath of Blister Blight disease.
What is Blister Blight?
Blister blight caused by Exobasidium vexans is a devastating leaf disease in tea (Camellia sinensis) in almost all tea growing regions in Asia. This disease causes serious crop losses under inclement weather conditions besides affecting quality of made tea.
Chinnamma, a tea estate worker from Ketti Valley said "Mostly the 'Blister Blight' infests young tea leaves which cannot be processed for tea production. Tonnes of leaves have been discarded due to this disease, this season in the district of Nilgiris".
"Copious rainfall during the southwest monsoon brought much cheer among the tea planters. However, the northeast monsoon failed us miserably. Adding more to the woes, the unusual combination of climate -- misty mornings, frosty noons, and lessened sunlight has led to blister blight condition", explained a tea planters from Kotagiri.
"The tea leaves infested with the condition had to be discarded leaving us suffer severe losses", he added.
The sprawling tea estates in the Nilgiris are known for their world-class tea leaves. Bestowing employment for thousands of people in and around the District, the tea industry is facing the wrath of Blister Blight disease.
What is Blister Blight?
Blister blight caused by Exobasidium vexans is a devastating leaf disease in tea (Camellia sinensis) in almost all tea growing regions in Asia. This disease causes serious crop losses under inclement weather conditions besides affecting quality of made tea.
Chinnamma, a tea estate worker from Ketti Valley said "Mostly the 'Blister Blight' infests young tea leaves which cannot be processed for tea production. Tonnes of leaves have been discarded due to this disease, this season in the district of Nilgiris".
"Copious rainfall during the southwest monsoon brought much cheer among the tea planters. However, the northeast monsoon failed us miserably. Adding more to the woes, the unusual combination of climate -- misty mornings, frosty noons, and lessened sunlight has led to blister blight condition", explained a tea planters from Kotagiri.
"The tea leaves infested with the condition had to be discarded leaving us suffer severe losses", he added.