Severe cold in Munnar: Blow to tea cultivation, over 30 acres lost at Lockhart estate

Munnar, Kerala: The severe cold in Munnar is proving to be a setback for the tea industry in the region. While the chill attracts more tourists, benefiting the tourism sector, it adversely affects tea cultivation. As temperatures drop, layers of frost form on the tea plants. When these melt under the sun, the plants dry out and wither, causing heavy losses to the estates.

Companies such as Kannan Devan, Tata, HML, and Thalayar are the main players in tea cultivation in the Munnar area. A week of extreme cold has led to the destruction of acres of crops belonging to various companies. Officials from HML reported that 131 hectares of tea cultivation have been damaged. At Lockhart Estate, more than 30 acres of tea have been destroyed. In previous years, such crop losses had resulted in a rise in tea prices.

During periods of frost, workers are unable to reach the fields early in the morning, which in turn affects their earnings.