While the tourism sector in Munnar is receiving a major boost from the chilly weather and frost, the tea sector, another important industry in the hill station, is suffering huge crop loss as the temperatures dropped to sub-zero levels.
Officials from two main tea producers in the area, Kanan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP) and Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML), said that hectares of tea plantations have been damaged by the continuous frost. According to the officials, alarge quantity of tea leaves have wilted. Once the frost melts, tender leaf buds dry up under the sun. Plucking then cannot be resumed for another three months, leading to a substantial loss.
KDHP sources said that an average of 100 hectares of their tea plantations have already wilted. “The temperatureis at sub-zero level in many places and may continue to be so. This could lead tofurther crop loss,” said a source.
Anil George, vice-president of tea operations at HML, reported significant losses on Lockhart estate near Devikulam. “On the Lockhart estate alone, around 49.04 hectares—about 14.3% of the estate area—were affected,” said Mr. George. “Located at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the estate has experienced sub-zero temperature for several days. The extreme cold is causing severe stress to tea bushes and is leading to defoliation of leaves,” he said.
“While sub-zero temperatures typically arrive in late December or early January, this year the frost began in the third week of December. The Siberian High and Katabatic flow phenomena appear to be the reasons for low temperature in high elevation tea growing areas in South India,” he said.
“The Siberian High usually brings cold winds to the Himalaya and it prevents moving further south. This year, due to climate change, it has moved towards South India,” Mr. George explained. “As it reaches the Nilgiris and Munnar, the air becomes denser at night and flows toward the valleys via Katabatic flow, resulting in extensive frost damage to nearby tea fields,” said Mr. George.
Meanwhile, the frost has given a boost to the tourism sector. Stakeholders said almost all hotels and resorts have seen a surge in bookings following reports of “snowfall” in the hill station.
Temperatures continued to remain at sub-zero levels across the region. On Tuesday morning, Letchmi recorded -1°C. According to the United Planters Association of South India (UPASI) Tea Research Foundation, Chenduvarai and Silent Valley reached 0°C, Nallathanni recorded 1°C, and Devikulam and Sevenmallay recorded 2°C.
Curated by Aisha Patel
