Reported by Manoj Kumar Ojha
Doomdooma: Climate change and rising fuel prices are affecting thousands of tea workers in Assam as the cost of bamboo baskets, an essential tool for tea plucking, continues to rise across tea gardens in Upper Assam.
Frequent storms and heavy rainfall over the past few years have damaged bamboo plantations in several parts of the state. This has reduced the supply of quality bamboo traditionally used to make tea baskets.
Basket makers in Tinsukia district said they are now forced to bring bamboo from distant areas and neighbouring states. This has increased transportation costs due to higher petrol and diesel prices.
“We have never faced such difficulty in bringing bamboo earlier. Transportation itself has become expensive now,” said a basket maker from Doomdooma.
Another artisan added, “We may not understand climate change in technical terms, but we can clearly see bamboo sources disappearing after repeated storms and floods.”
According to local basket makers, a small bamboo basket used for tea plucking now costs around Rs 200, while a larger basket used for storing tea leaves costs nearly Rs 300. They said prices may rise further once existing bamboo stock is exhausted.
Tea workers, many of whom earn low daily wages, said the rising cost of work tools and essential goods is increasing their financial burden.
“The basket is our livelihood. Without it, we cannot work in the gardens,” said a woman tea worker.
Another worker remarked, “A basket lasts only three to six months, and buying a new one every time has become very difficult for poor families.”
Workers said bamboo baskets have no alternative, as they help keep freshly plucked tea leaves fresh for several hours.
While the government has said it is monitoring price increases, tea workers and artisans said they are unsure how labourers will cope as climate-related damage and fuel-driven transport costs continue to push up prices in rural Assam.