Mechenical Harvesting ? Where are we ?!

I am pasting an excerpt from an article of mine on the Serious Problems the Indian Tea Industry is facing. I would like you to discuss and give your comments on whether we should go in for Mechanical aids for Harvesting and where we went wrong in North India. Let us have your views, whatever they be, and learn from them.

" 2. We need to look at Mechanization as a tool that we have to make work. A very clear example is that of mechanical harvesting ….
Mechanization of harvesting: This was tried out some years ago in the North East and in most cases the verdict was very clear that it affected quality adversely. As a result mechanical harvesting was thrown out.
I would like to go back in time... something similar took place in 1970/71. There were these new Withering Troughs which were being tried out to replace the old labour intensive ‘changs’ (the old leaf houses). After 6 months trials the verdict was similar - “the old system produced better quality”. BUT unlike with Mechanical harvesting, the system was not thrown out: it was worked at and modified & modified to suit the industry’s requirement. It was clear that for the future the labour intensive operation (which also would have been capital intensive for increasing capacity) needed to be changed to stay competitive. As a result this system of ‘trough withering’ is the only form of withering today.
But with Mechanical Harvesting somewhere down the line we lost our way. Just imagine if we had done the same thing with Trough Withering.

However, some other growing countries have persisted with it and have results to show today."

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Te@ Technologies Outsourcing (TTOS) was set up in response to client demand for practical business solutions. The founder, previously the Director of Rossell Industries Ltd and Head of Unilever Plantations in North East India, has established this organisation to bring real world solutions to the tea industry and enable organizations to upgrade the knowledge, skills and efficiency of their management teams.

Scope of the services:
1. We offer unparalleled expertise in identifying & evaluating problems and then delivering solutions. You just call upon us and we will work with you to help identify the problem and then find the solution.
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3. We specialize in Training of Executives & supervisory staff on all aspects of plantation operations, including HR for Plantations. We bring in views and practices from across the tea world to help your teams get a broader picture, wider knowledge and ‘experience’ and the required skill to take the business forward.
4. Advisory service – This is not a run-of-the-mill “consultancy service”: we do things differently. We bring international experience to understand your issues and re-look at your operations. We can make a real difference to your organisation with our insight and wide experience. We offer opportunities that we might identify for you. Our focus is on practical solutions: solutions backed by wide international ‘real world’ experience, clarity of vision, supported by research & business school theory. ……………………………………………………………………...

Because TTOS works exclusively in the field of outsourcing services, it updates its knowledge base continuously and maintains its leading edge in the field. Market developments are constantly monitored… it can provide advice on emerging opportunities, strategies and technologies that affect the various operations, markets,… and finally, it helps clients move their businesses forward.
In a demanding market – with increasing pressures to perform and ever-increasing expectations, TTOS can apply that vital, impartial sense check and a flexible incremental resource to address important strategic and organisational opportunities that could otherwise get sidelined.
TTOS provides qualified and flexible resource to apply to operational, organisational and strategic opportunities
In whatever sector of the tea market you operate TTOS has expertise (or access to outsource experts best in the required field) that can make a difference to your organisation.

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