Goodricke focuses on replantation to increase productivity

Goodricke Group Limited, which runs 18 tea gardens in Dooars, Darjeeling and Assam, will continue to focus on uprooting and replantation to increase productivity.

"The uprooting and replanting policy of the company continues to remain in focus and has further improved the percentage of tea plants below the age of 50 years which is approximately 44.70 per cent of the total area", the company said in its latest annual report.

During the last financial year, Goodricke recorded own crop of 18.63 million kg of tea compared to 18.83 million kg in the previous year.

However, the total manufactured crop along with purchased leaf stood at 26.57 million kg as against 24.03 million kg in the previous last year, which is approximately 10 per cent higher.

The slight shortfall in crop is due to the embargo imposed on plucking as per Tea Board directive, the company said in the report.

The company said that as part of a continuous upgradation and modernisation programme, mechanisation has been further extended in areas of plucking, spraying, planting and pruning.

During the year, 24 per cent and 20 per cent savings were achieved over last year on deployment of mandays on pruning and uprooting operations respectively.

Besides 18 tea gardens, Goodricke operates one instant tea plant and four blending units.