Erratic Weather Impacts Tea Production In India


COONOOR: Erratic weather, scanty rains and high temperatures this summer have impacted tea production in India, as evident from 18 million kg (average) lower yield during the first six months of 2014.

"Changing weather pattern in north India, especially in the eastern states resulted in tea production declining 22 million kg first half of this year compared to same period in 2013," an official of the commodity planters' representative body told IANS here.

Belated rains during June and July in south India, however, benefited its planters to produce 4.5 million kg more tea than in the like period last year as the southwest monsoon had set in late.

Production declined 7.9 percent in north India to 260 million kg in January-June this year from 283 million kg in like period last year, while it increased marginally to 121 million kg in south India from 116 million kg year ago.

On all-India level, production dipped 4.5 percent to 381 million kg in first six months of 2014 from 399 million kg in same period year ago.

"Climatic changes such as prolonged dry period and peak monsoon are not conducive for the crop intake. Fluctuating seasons, global warming and sudden changes in weather impact tea gardens as much as our lives," United Planters Association of South India (Upasi) commodities head R. Sanjith said.

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Source: IANS