Mechanization of harvesting in tea: A classic case of Science and Technology interfacce with Management

Abstract

This article presents that tea industry in south India has benefited immensely by technological and watershed interventions that boosted the productivity of south Indian tea. Considering "Harvesting" as a key operation of tea industry, this article highlights the following four critical parameters: crop yield; cost of production; leaf quality and price realization. Furthermore, Leaf Expansion Time (LET) is taken as the basis while planning harvesting schedules In 1989, actual scientific studies on "phyllochron concept" based on accumulated day degrees were carried out as per recommendations made by R.S.R. Murthy and V.S. Sharma. Furthermore keeping "multiplication factor" and LET in view, a Harvesting Interval Equation is also formed and discussed. Finally based on the science and technology interface, this article stresses on the importance of the "art of plucking", which has become a "science of harvesting", and is gaining wider consideration particularly in the context of acute shortage of workers and ever-spiraling wage-bills.