conventional tea plucking vs modern
In
the modern supply and demand concept as a tea manufacture, need to be produced
production to fulfill demand of tea market. But according to the conventional
tea plucking is not sufficient to fulfill that requirement. The main reason is
human fatigue and it is known as temporally inability during work on prolonged
works. To avoid such less production and productivity new solution is tea
plucking machine. But before introduce that important technique/ procedure, it
is need to be discussed different angles and they are,
Social
According
to our knowledge we know tea plucking is done by traditional Tamil people in
upcountry. And they have social heredity for that by generation to generation.
But their technical knowledge is very poor about machine operate therefore
physical injuries may high. To get more productivity Indian workers can be
replaced instead them. But they are foreign employees and their culture is
different than Sri Lankan traditional Tamil culture hence, if we place them
some mismatches may occur in both societies such as religion, language, etc.
How to eliminate…
·
Training and Development – To eliminate
this type of problems need to be started employee training and development
program in Tamil medium. And this should be done by using Tamil instructor and
need to be explained important of machine tea plucking. After instruction, it
is essential to launch practically movement through guidelines.
·
Motivational Programs – Motivational
programs energize to increase performance of works. These programs may be
financial as well as non financial such as,
+ Add bonus allowance to daily payments only
for machine plucking worker.
+ Grade each efficient
worker list in notice board / banner of factory entrance area to ....see all of other employees.
+ Prize awarding to
best target tea plucking worker in each month.
Economic
Economically
machine tea plucking is very important. Because when machine tea plucking can
be taken more tea plucked harvest than conventional hand plucking. But need more
capital to purchase machines, diesel/ fuels, and machine maintain costs. But that
cost can be covered by large profit.
Total Cost = Fixed cost + Variable Cost
Revenue = Price *
Sales Volume
Profit = Revenue – Total Costs
In
here if plucked harvest is higher, then production and product sales volume
rises rapidly and hence, it is helps to increase company revenue and sales in
to tea market.
Environment
Hand
tea plucking is more environment friendly than machine plucking because in hand
tea plucking operator can filter little tea leaf only. Because maturity tea leaf
are needed for photosynthesis of tree need to grow and ability to make more new
little tea leaf. But in machine tea plucking, operator unable to 100% filter
little leaf through maturity and certain amount of both will cut. So in short
time weak tea plant can be seen due to low photosynthesis of each plant. Another
thing is higher noise and vibration of tea plucking machines may harmful to
environment. Previously I told according to the maturity leaf damages due to
machine cut then tea plants are getting weak. To avoid weakness of trees manufacturer
have to input more chemical fertilizer to quick leaf and each parts of tree enlargement
but it may be harmful to soil lives and sometime toxic chemicals may mix with
water source and when drinking harmful chemical may effect to human body.
Although
machine tea plucking is more profitable through mass production, but is
dangerous and critical hence, I’m not willing to introduce tea plucking machine
by considering following points.
Environmental Diseases
When
machine operating at 8 hours per each day there are more fuel is burning to
launch this tea plucking machine and when diesel burning, unburned carbon and
green house gases release to the environment and it may be affect to quick
climatic change in environment with green house effect of earth. Another thing
is according to machine operating long time it releases certain amount of noise
and extra vibration long time generate industrial hygienic hazards.
Unusual Injuries
According
to fewer practices and less attention of tea plucking, worker sometimes may
occur bad injuries because tea plucking machine contains sharp blades when
working machine these blades are highly move and in case hand or any body part
met in time, badly cut those places.
Tea Plant Damages
In
hand tea plucking, worker has time to filter and select little tea leaf among
maturity leaf. But in machine tea plucking both tea leaves are mixing.
Training and
Development Problems
Conventional
estate workers are not educated in their culture and society and in new
development and method introducing to them it is difficult to train them
correctly. Because if we plan to train them we have to select more practical
training schedule and instructor. If we unable to success that two criteria
then they never learn and practice machine tea plucking correctly.
Machine Costs
In
new introducing tea plucking machines to estate need to choose durable, less
maintain cost and higher quality machines to continuous work hence we have to
invest more capital cost for new machine purchasing. So it is need to be
planned to purchase higher quality and higher durable and low cost machines for
tea plucking operations in tea estate.
Higher Machine Maintain
Costs
Although
machines are quality but in tea plucking operation continuously it is need to
service and maintain that machines to keep prolonged works in tea estate. But
it is generate additional costs for machine oils and machine blades and other
machine parts. And also it is need to recruit specialized maintains workers and
technicians for machine servicing and maintain process.
Poor Quality of Tea
Plucking Harvest Production
I
above told when machine tea plucking maturity and little leaf may mix and it is
directly affect to reduces quality of dry tea because maturity tea leaf
generate less taste hence customer loyalty will decrease. And in machine tea
plucking, cut leaf are auto insert in to sack by using machine vacuum system
and in here dust and impurities affinity will increase in to sack according to
this vacuum system.
How to eliminate…
To
eliminate this production lose we can introduce new tea plucking techniques by
using hand power operating small tool or machine. But this technique should not
harmful to tea plants and environment. And to avoid injuries can be introduced
personal protective gloves and personal protective coat for wearing and work
when tea plucking.
My
Final Decisions and Solutions
·
To introduce new tea plucking process
and improvement.
·
Add production and quality incentive for
target exceeding workers.
·
Introduce cost effective training and
development target.
·
To introduce prize giving each monthly
for best performance team of estate.
·
Introduce
simple hand operating machine instead diesel burning machine.
Source: Assignment - II, Technology Society and Environment at OUSL
Author: K.K.T Madhusanka