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Jan-Feb tea output dips

Our Bureau

CHENNAI, April 9

TEA production in the country declined by 700,000 kg to 37 million kg (mkg) during January-February this year compared to the same period a year ago.

Continuing the downtrend, the production declined by 500,000 kg in February to 16.2 mkg. South India was primarily responsible for the dip during the month as harvest takes place mainly in this region during January-February, according to the Tea Board.

During February, production in South India declined to 15.4 mkg against 15.9 mkg during the same period last year. The dip was mainly in Tamil Nadu where the output slipped to 9.9 mkg (10.7 mkg). While the production showed a rise of 400,000 kg in Karnat aka to 5.2 mkg, it slipped in Karnataka by 100,000 kg to 300,000 kg.

Output in West Bengal was steady at 500,000 kg and in Assam it was stable at 300,000 kg.

However, for the January-February period, tea production in the North-Eastern region was down by 1.1 mkg to 7.7 mkg while in the south it was up by 400,000 kg to 29.3 mkg.

The tea sector continues to lay emphasis on orthodox production, which went by 700,000 kg during January -February to 5.7 mkg with South alone contributing 5.1 mkg (4.8 mkg)

CTC production was pegged at 31.1 mkg, down 1.4 mkg compared to the year-ago period, while other teas made up 200,00 kg.