From lab to land : Derby Tea Garden gets a ‘Bio-Boost’ from Assam University 

way2barak, Dec 30:  Assam University has delivered 100 litres of a specially formulated ‘Trichoderma’ bio-agent to the Derby Tea Estate yesterday on 29 December 2025, marking the first major on-ground initiative under the university’s recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tea Association of India (Barak Valley branch).

The project, initiated under the University-Industry partnership, represents a powerful synergy between lab and land. The highly efficient fungal strain of Trichoderma, a beneficial microorganism known for combating soil-borne plant pathogens and promoting growth, was developed at the Microbiology Laboratory, led by Prof. Piyush Pandey.

“This is applied science in its truest sense,” said Prof. Pandey. “We are moving our research from the petri dish directly to the plantation. The strain we developed is robust, and by enabling the estate to prepare the medium, we make the technology accessible, sustainable, and scalable for the tea industry.”

The 100-litre consignment will be applied on a trial basis across designated sections of the Derby Tea Estate. Scientists will closely monitor its impact on soil health, plant vitality, and resilience against diseases, with the aim of reducing reliance on chemical fungicides.

The success of this trial could pave the way for wider adoption across the valley’s tea gardens, positioning Assam University as a pivotal hub for agro-innovation and setting a new standard for eco-friendly plantation management in the region.