Sudden climatic turn in Chhattisgarh region has left its mark on the Tendupatta (leaves) producer’s foreheads as crease of concern. Due to climatic effects the Tendu leaves have shrivelled and split marks have appeared on this money yielding produce thereby leading to degraded quality of leaves and pushed up price of healthy leaves, which eventually could make Bidies costlier this time round, but news of bonus came as respite and though there leaves shrivelled but there hope swelled.
A week back, rain and hailstones hit state specially the south- west Bastar area, a region known for abundance of Tendu leaves was the worst hit. The mature Tendu leaves worth plucking were spoiled almost. Due to cloudy weather and absence of adequate amount of sun light, Tendu leaves started shrivelling turning them unfit to make Bidies (small cones made up of Tendu leaves filled with tobacco being used as local cigarette). The reaming healthy leaves are short in quantity as compared to the demand which will shot up the price of healthy leaves and may eventually turn the end products Bidies more costly this time round. Experts opine that now leaves price may sore up, making the end products Bidi relatively costlier. Forest official on the condition of anonymity said that changed weather condition in this region directly hits the Tendupatta producing poor Tribal, who depends upon the income from this forest produce. This time spoiled laves would not earn them good income, he said.