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Traditional practices adopted by the small growers of Assam for tea pest management

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is an important commercial crop extensively cultivated in Assam. Being grown as a monocrop, many insect and mite pests are prevalent in the tea plantations causing considerable crop loss. Use of traditional plant protection measures for pest management in tea has not been considered feasible considering the vastness of the tea plantation. However, Ayangarya (2006) reported that many tea pests could be controlled successfully by adopting such traditional practices based on Vrikshayurveda.