Tea output falls by 5.42 percent in September; West Bengal hardest hit

Kolkata, Nov 17: Production of tea across India during September fell by 5.42 percent while a fall of 1.29 percent in production was recorded during April-September. Total tea production was pegged at 148.81 million kg (mkg) during September as against 157.33 mkg in the same month in 2014.

According to the data from Tea Board of India, West Bengal was the hardest hit, where tea production declined by 13.49 percent at 39.24 mkg. In West Bengal, Dooars tea variant took a hit by 13.18 percent in September, producing 22.92 mkg while the Terai variant – mostly used to blend Assam CTC (crush, tear, curl) leaves – dipped by 14.49 percent at 15.29 mkg.

The prized Darjeeling tea — which fetches the maximum bid during the auctions — declined by 4.63 percent at 1.03 mkg during September. Assam, which accounted for 50.69 percent of the total tea produced in the country in 2014-15, saw a marginal decline of 0.87 percent in its black and CTC leaves output.

The Assam Valley produced 82.02 mkg of tea during September, which remained flat compared with the same month of 2014. Production in Cachar region in the state, however, declined by 11.62 percent at 5.93 mkg. Taking into account the production from Kulu estates in Himachal Pradesh and the ones from West Bengal and Assam, total production of tea in north India stood at 130.47 mkg, a decline of 5.14 percent over the corresponding month in 2014.

South Indian tea — produced from leaves grown in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka — witnessed a fall of 7.32 percent in production during September at 18.34 mkg. During April-September, pan-India production fell by 1.29 percent at 773.43 mkg. North Indian tea producing states registered a decline of 1.46 percent at 643.60 mkg while the southern region showed a decline of 0.41 percent at 129.83 mkg.

Plagued by rain scarcity, lower auction prices and a global trend of declining prices, output of Assam leaves during April-September declined by 3.15 percent at 414.36 mkg while the second largest producer – West Bengal – recorded a output fall of 1.57 percent at 211.10 mkg. The decline was however lesser in peninsular and southern region. Tamil Nadu marginally increased its production of Nilgiri tea variant at 92.79 mkg during April-September as against 92.51 mkg in corresponding period of 2014.

Two other producer states Kerala and Karnataka, however, saw a marginal fall in production. (IANS)