Uneven distribution of rainfall and untimely cold spell in major tea producing states of India have dropped tea production by 1.3% leading to a decline in India’s exports during January-November 2014.
Tea output has declined in Assam, Darjeeling, Munnar and Tamil Nadu with a major setback in Assam where production decreased by 5.2% due to dry weather in tea producing months June –September 2014. Moreover, output in Tamil Nadu was down by 2.6 per cent to 168.9 million kg. Only relief came from West Bengal where tea production rose by 12.5% to 19.9 million kg.
While earnings witnessed a decline of 6.6% from Rs.3,866.90 crore to Rs.3,612.80, shipments dropped by 4.1%.
Assam contributes almost 50% to India’s tea output but the states reeled under extremely dry weather witnessing occasional spell of rainfall during last year. The rainfall remained deficient by 9% during June-September in the state affecting tea crop.
As per Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the weather played foul in Munnar as well where the cold spell pulled the minimum temperatures below normal and affected large tracts of tea plantation area. The minimum temperature in tea growing hill station ranges from 10°C – 0°C but with temperatures falling as low as -2°C, tea production of about 7 lakh kg in 400 hectares of area had been affected.
Output in Darjeeling declined by a staggering 21% in June 2014 in comparison to same period in 2013.
