The Tocklai Tea Research Institute will help the industry through a package of practices to be followed for recovery after prolonged closure.

The 21-day lockout announced on Tuesday to contain the spread of Covid-19 will hit the tea industry as there will be virtually no plucking next month and some part of May is likely to be hit.

“The leaf will become long if it is not plucked and will grow freely. After closure period the overgrown branches needs to be skiffed/pruned back to encourage new shoots. The failure to pluck in time leads to reduction in plucking points and thereby hits yield. The effect will increase with time. The best example is the prolonged Darjeeling bandh in 2017 which hit the industry badly,” a tea industry official said.

“It is an ‘unavoidable’ loss. When you cannot compromise on life you need to adjust,” another one said, adding that all precautions need to be taken.

A senior official at Tocklai said it is preparing a special bulletin on recovery after prolonged closure, which will contain a package of practices to be followed for recovery.

“We will guide the industry in the best possible way. A lot of inputs will be taken from the industry too,” the official said.

The first flush has already been lost and there is a palpable fear that the second flush, which starts in May, will take a hit too.

Plucking had just picked up in gardens in Assam and this is the first flush period.

Leaves plucked during the first flush are the youngest and the most tender part of the tea plant and are said to yield the purest and freshest cup of tea that the plant is capable of producing.

The first flush from March to April is the first plucking after the dormant winter months. The leaves are tender and light green.

Assam tea is generally known for the second flush, which comes in May-June and is characterised by its boldness and robustness and is topped with classic flavours of malt and woody astringency. It is valued for its rich taste, bright liquors and are considered to be one of the choicest teas in the world.

“There will be huge pest build-up from second week of April onwards. I am very sceptical even for second flush too,” a senior manager of an orthodox tea making garden said, adding that there will be loss in production.

The Assam Branch of the Indian Tea Association has requested the labour commissioner to allow the industry to undertake spraying/irrigation operations as there may be huge and permanent damage to the tea plants if adequate plant protection (through spraying of pest repellents and pest killers) is not allowed.

“In view of the scanty rainfall at present, it is also required to continue irrigation in tea gardens as necessary,” the association said.