eChapters

Abstract 

In this chapter the origin of flavour in tea have been explained under the light of chemistry of green leaves and made tea. The dependency of flavor in the final product on several factors involved in every step of its manufacturing process has been explained briefly to draw a back ground picture of the subject. On the other hand in-depth explanations on the chemical basis of diversity and complex nature of tea flavour have been given following a simple manner.

Moreover, traditional and recently developed analytical methods have also been reviewed critically. Analytical strategies and details of instrumentation involved to study or quantify the flavour in tea have been depicted in details with their prose and cones under the light of complicacy of the subject. Potential and loop holes of the new technology viz. E-Nose have been explained critically. Finally a hypothesis with little experimental proofs has been explained to meet a probable solution to the present problems in flavour analysis of tea.

Abstract
 
Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is a plantation crop having a wide distribution extending from low elevation to high exceeding 2000 m. The demands and consumption of organically grown residue free Darjeeling tea is increasing day by day due to health consciousness and environmental awareness. The average productivity of Darjeeling tea is far below than the average national tea productivity. Reasons for low productivity of Darjeeling tea may be due to high altitude/elevation; temperature/climate and geographical location in addition to the old age of tea bushes and low plant density. In the past indiscriminate use of synthetic fertilizers has led to the pollution and contamination of the soil, water basins, destroyed micro-organisms and friendly insects, making the crop more prone to diseases and reduced soil fertility. Following Good Agriculture Practices (GAP), sustainable and quality production of Darjeeling tea may be increased through eco-forming without any deterioration of surroundings of plants.

Abstract

Tea, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze, is a perennial crop and grown as a monoculture on large contiguous areas in India. Being a plantation crop, tea provides a relatively stable microclimate and food supply for several notorious pests such as insects, mites, nematodes which cause substantial loss of foliage. However, region-wide variation in faunal diversity exists as a result of autochthonous and heterochthonous recruitment and the influence of climate, altitude and age of the plantation. This publication provides the details on pest information (identification, crop damage, alternate hosts, pest life cycle) and their possible management strategies. On account of complex pest situations, total avoidance of pesticides in tea is not possible; although due to the sensitive nature of the crop pesticide use must be minimal. A tentative IPM strategy for tea cultivation in India has been proposed in this paper which may ensure low – cost, eco-compatible, pest management package with minimal residue problems.

Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis L. O. Kuntze), a foliage crop of Sub-Himalayan Terai-Dooars has Tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis theivora)(TMB), looper caterpillars [Hyposidra talaca, Hyposidra infixaria, Biston (=Buzura) suppresseria] and Red spider mite (Oligonychus coffeae)(RSM) as major pests. In conventionally managed tea plantations, synthetic pesticides and acaricides are routinely applied. The pesticide-exposed pest populations show higher tolerance level as evident in their increased LC50 values. Augmented activities of detoxifying enzymes viz. general esterases (GE), glutathione S–transferases (GST) and cytochrome P450 mediated monooxygenases (CYP) were recorded in the pesticide-exposed pest populations. Sub–lethal exposure to monocrotophos (36% SL) enhanced the tolerance level in adult TMB by 105 fold through three generations. Increased activity of GE was evident in the pesticide-exposed populations of the tea loopers. Activities of GE and GST  in RSM were significantly higher in acaricide-exposed population. Present studies can help developing enzyme-based assay kit for determining level of pesticide-resistance. Integrated resistance management has become an integral part of modern day IPM practices. Adoption of newer chemicals, and cultural practices can minimise synthetic pesticide applications, thereby help reducing resistance development in pests.

Abstract

Pruning is the most important cultural operations in tea cultivation. Time of pruning affects health of bush, incidence of pests and disease, yield and distribution of crop. Root starch reserve at the time of pruning affects the recovery of bush and hence considered as the most crucial factor for deciding time of pruning. Downward movement of photosynthates was found maximum in December and January, thereby maximizing the starch reserve in roots. Maximum recovery of tea bush and minimum loss in annual crop was found when pruned during December – January. Pruning in remaining months (February – November ) may result in crop loss to the tune of 5 per cent – 37 per cent in plain areas. Clonal varieties differ in root starch accumulation during winter months hence pruning time of individual clone needs to be decided accordingly to enhance recovery of plants.

Abstract

Ensuring the provision of safe and healthy working conditions to all workers and promoting the availability to them of certain minimum welfare amenities are the constitutional obligations of all employers as well as the Indian state. Enlightened employers tend to provide for these facilities on their own, as part of their performance and retention strategies. Others, however, largely consider these obligations as burden. Some recent researches reveal that the pursuit of numerical flexibility policies is becoming rampant amongst employers in the advanced world; they are doing so to cut costs and become more competitive. This means more use of labour-cost-saving devices and neglect of some basic rights of workers. Of course, intense competition amongst companies puts pressure on them to attempt cost-cutting and ignore these legal provisions. It should be noted however, that the law relating to working conditions is perhaps the most basic of labour laws in any country; therefore, its sanctity has to be maintained with an added responsibility by all concerned and as a societal value.

Abstract

“Darjeeling Tea” as a global brand brings attention to the Darjeeling District and creates a global imaginary which obliterates the dark colonial history, existing exploitation of the workers and the natural resources of the region. The global brand name is protected under the certification trademarks which has a geographical indication. Thus only tea from the 87 tea plantations can be called Darjeeling Tea. There is an increasing trend towards Darjeeling Tea going organic and fairtrade. This trend is critiqued with questions of how green and fair can a monoculture plantation get. Within this imaginary, small farmers’ tea offers an alternative paradigm based on equity and diversity. This paper explores the alternative by highlighting the (United Development Organization) journey of a small farmers collective Mineral Spring SanjuktaVikashSanstha.

Abstract

The history of the development of the tea plantation industry in the Darjeeling district dates back to the early fifties of the nineteenth century when the English entrepreneurs took lease of extensive land on the mountain slopes of the Darjeeling Himalaya and started tea plantations. During the formative years of the introduction of the plantation industry the region was sparsely populated so, laborers from various parts of India and her neighboring countries were encouraged to settle in the fringe areas of the Tea gardens. Over the last 160 years many changes have taken place in their lifestyle. The main purpose of this paper is to reconstruct the history of Darjeeling tea and to explore the life of people in the Darjeeling region and also to learn how the local populace adjusted themselves with the given environment with the changing scenario of the area.

Perennial vegetables live/survive in field for several years and go on yielding vegetables without much care and attention.  They are usually planted on the side of kitchen garden without much interference with tillage operations of other annual crops.  Tender leaves, shoots, fruits or tubers of a number of perennial crops are used for vegetable purpose in different agro-climatic conditions. They may be trees or shrubs as in bread fruit, jack fruit, drumstick, etc. or bushes as in colocasia or trailing plants as in yams, chow-chow and ivy gourd.

Vegetables which are consumed raw without cooking are known as salad crops.  In temperate regions, a large number of quick growing cool season crops like lettuce, celery, parsley, endive, chicory, chervil, cress, water cress etc. are consumed as raw. Only lettuce and celery are cultivated on a commercial scale in developed countries.  Growing awareness on nutritional values of raw vegetables and also health consciousness of people resulted in increased consumption of salad vegetables in tropics too.  Vegetables like onion, cucumber, tomato, carrot, radish, beet root, cabbage, capsicum, melon etc. are used as salads without cooking.

Leaf vegetables are rich sources of provitamin-A, vitamin-C and minerals like calcium, iron etc.  They also provide roughage required in human diet.  The Indian Council of Medical Research (1984) recommended a daily intake of 100 g and 40 g of leaf vegetables in the diet of woman and man, respectively. Amaranth, beet leaf, spinach, fenugreek, cabbage etc. are the major leaf vegetables grown in the country. In addition, a number of under-utilized annual crops are also grown as leaf vegetables in specific regions. Tender stems and leaves of a number of perennial crops are rich sources of vitamins and minerals and are used for cooking.  The major annual leaf vegetables have a few features in common:

Tropical tuber crops are an important group of subsistence crops in tropical and subtropical zones.  Carbohydrates synthesised and stored in the form of starch in underground tubers are used as food by millions in under-developed countries.  It is also used as raw material by many industries.  Cassava, sweet potato, Chinese potato, edible aroids like elephant foot yam, taro, tannia and yams like greater yam, lesser yam and white yam are major tuber crops  grown in India.

Tuber crops are mainly grown as rainfed with minimum cost of production.  All are propagated through vegetative means and require fertile and well drained loose soil for proper root development. All roots crops require high dose of potassium for high productivity.

Potato is fourth major food crop after rice, wheat and maize in the world.  It produces the highest dry matter, well balanced protein and more calories/unit area and time.  Unlike other food crops, potato tubers contain vitamin-c (17 mg/100 g). It provides carbohydrates, minerals, fibre and a number of vitamin-B groups.  Potato protein is comparable to that of milk and egg.  Unlike European countries, in tropics and sub-tropics, the crop is of short duration and fits well in intensive cropping system.  It can be grown in a wide range of climatic and soil conditions and tubers are available throughout the year. Tubers can be left un-harvested in the soil for some time and are also suitable for long distance transport and storage. Several products like chips, flakes, French-fries, finger chips, granule, disc, cubes and flour are made out of potato tubers.

Radish, turnip, carrot and beet root are major root crops grown in the country.  In addition, root crops like rutabaga, parsnip, salsify, chervil and celeriac are grown in a limited scale in different areas. Though the crops belong to different families, their cultural requirements are uniform.  Common features of root crops like radish, turnip, carrot and beet root are:

Bulb crops include onion, garlic, leek, shallot, welsh onion and chive all belonging to the genus Allium.  This genus was earlier included in the family Liliaceae due to its superior ovary.  It was later shifted to Amaryllidaceae as flowers are born in a bracted umbel on top of a scape.  Being the typical genus in the family Amaryllidaceae, a new separate family status was given to all the specious under Allium as Alliaceae.

Vegetables belonging to the family Brassicaceae (Syn: Cruciferae) are known as Cole crops.  These are the most widely grown vegetables in temperate and sub-tropical zones.  The word ‘Cole’ comes from abbreviation of word ‘caulis’ meaning stem.  Cole crops are a group of highly differentiated plants originated from a wild plant Brassica oleracea var. oleracea (=B. sylvestris L.) commonly known as “Wild cliff cabbage” or “colewort”, through mutation, human selection or adaptation. Cole crops include cabbage, cauliflower, knol khol, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, sprouting broccoli, kale etc. of which cabbage and cauliflower are the most popular and widely grown.

Peas and beans belonging to the family Fabaceae (Syn. Leguminosae) are delicious and preferred vegetables grown throughout the world. These include cool season vegetables like pea, French bean, lima bean, broad bean and tropical vegetables like cowpea, hyacinth bean, winged bean, jack bean, sword bean etc.  These are integral components of sustainable agriculture due to their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and to improve soil properties. Legume vegetables are rich in protein and essential amino acids and have significant role in combating malnutrition among poor people and vegetarians.

Okra is predominantly a crop of tropics and subtropics.  It occupies fifth position, next to tomato, in area under vegetables in the country with a production of 33.24 lakh metric tonnes from an area of 3.47 lakh hectares.  The crop is cultivated for its young tender fruits, used in curry and soups after cooking. It is a good source of vitamins A and B, protein and minerals. It is also an excellent source of iodine and is useful for the treatment of goitre.  Fruit is useful against genito-urinary disorders, spermetorrhoea and chronic dysentery. Fruits are also dried or frozen for use during off-season.  Dried fruit contain 13-22% edible oil and 20-24% protein and is used for refined edible oil.  Dry fruit skin and fibres are used in manufacture of paper, card board and fibres.  Root and stem are used for clearing cane juice for preparation of jaggary.

Crops belonging to family Cucurbitaceae are generally known as ‘Cucurbits’. It consists of a wide range of vegetables either used for salad purpose (cucumber) or for cooking (all gourds), pickling (West Indian gherkin) or as dessert fruit (muskmelon, water melon) or candied or preserved (ash gourd).  As a group, cucurbits occupy the largest area in India and in other tropical countries. Its use is not primarily because of calories, minerals or vitamins since they are generally low to moderate in nutrients with a few exceptions like bitter gourd (rich in vitamin C- 96mg/100g), pumpkin (vitamin A 1600 IU/100g ), Kakrol (high protein  3.1g/100g,), parwal and chow chow (calcium- 531 mg and  140 mg / 100 g respectively). From the nutritional point of view, cucurbit seeds are valued for their high oil and protein contents.  Seed proteins of cucurbits are comparable to that of legumes and are richer in methionine.

The family Solanaceae consists of 85 genera, which include both tuberiferous and non-tuberiferous ones.  Brinjal (Solanum sp.), chilli (Capsicum sp.) and tomato (Lycopersicon sp.) are the major fruit vegetables under the family.  In all genera, fruit is an indehiscent berry.
 
A key for the identification of the above  three genera are furnished below:
    A.    Anthers connivant in a cone, longer than filaments
    B.    Anthers dehisce by apical pores or short slits, leaves entire, lobed or pinnatifid : Solanum
    BB.    Anthers dehisce introsely by longitudinal slits, the tips empty, leaves pinnatiset : Lycopersicon
    AA.    Anthers not connivant in a cone, not larger than the filaments, dehisce by lateral slits : Capsicum