The Tea Research Association (TRA) is connecting with planters using different online communication tools.

The association, with 10 advisory branches in Assam, Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Meghalaya, makes two planned field-advisory visits in a year, covering more than 1,000 tea estates of its member companies.

“The lockdown has prevented the scientists of the advisory team from visiting the estates. In a quick adaptation mode, TRA has started connecting with tea planters of areas under its operation in Assam, Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Meghalaya through video conferencing on a regular basis by using different platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex and Zoom. Planters participate with their questions and queries which are replied by the TRA team comprising different subject experts,” said Joydeep Phukan, the secretary of the association.

The emergence of Covid-19 has thrown lives of people out of gear. The industry, which employs over 1.5 million people, has started operations in Assam and Bengal with 50 per cent and 25 per cent manpower, observing the government guidelines of social distancing and is relying on the scientific advisories from Tea Research Association (TRA Tocklai).

Dr AK. Barooah, Director TRA and his team have given detailed advisories on the post-lockdown scenario to be taken in field and factories in English, Assamese and Bengali. “We are fully geared up with all the online communication tools to connect with our 1,000-plus member tea estates and small tea growers across nine states. Till things get back to normal as per government guidelines, these measures will continue,” he said.