Mr.Jeffry Rebello, President-UPASI in a press statement has requested Government to control the Tea Mosquito Bug (TMB-Helopeltis theivora) (TMB) problem in the tea plantations in India.
He said that India has the second largest area under tea in the world with around 6.37 lakhs hectares. The tea area in North India is 5.36 lakhs hectares while South India has an area of 1.01 lakh hectares. Currently, small tea growers contribute 52 percent of India’s tea production with around 2.10 lakh growers spread across West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The severe infestation of TMB seems to be threatening the very existence of the tea industry in both South and North India.
The extent of damage can be seen from the steep