Published Apr 17, 2023
Tea farming is the cultivation of tea plants for their leaves, buds and stems.
Tea can be grown in tropical and subtropical regions with warm and humid climates. Tea plants prefer well-drained, acidic and fertile soils with plenty of organic matter.
To start tea farming, one needs to select a suitable site, prepare the land, and obtain quality planting material. Tea plants can be propagated by seeds or cuttings, and they are usually planted in rows or blocks.
Tea leaves are harvested by plucking the young shoots of the tea plants, which consist of two or three leaves and a bud. The harvested leaves are then processed into different types of tea.
Tea farming can provide income and employment opportunities for farmers and workers. Tea farming can also improve soil health, conserve water resources, enhance biodiversity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Tea farming faces many challenges such as climate change, pests and diseases, labor shortages, market fluctuations, low productivity, high production costs, and environmental degradation.