Erratic Weather Impacts Tea Production In India

North India accounts for about 80 percent of the country's tea production, as the area of the crop cultivation is larger and widely spread, covering 459,610 hectares as against 119,740 hectares in south India, where tea is grown mostly in Tamil Nadu in 80,460 hectares and Kerala in 37,140 hectares.

Of the total production (1,200 million kg) in the country in 2013, northern states contributed 959 million kg while southern states 242 million kg, with Tamil Nadu accounting for 173 million kg, Kerala 63 million kg and Karnataka 6 million kg only.

"Total production in south India for this calendar year (2014) is expected to be more or less same as last year (242 million kg), as rainfall is less, due to which tea gardens are unable to follow standard farm practices," Sanjith noted.

The state-run Tea Board had revised the production from 2011 by bringing in organised and unorganised producers, especially in northern states, as many of them were not reporting their crop output earlier.

Of the country's production in 2013, which was 74 million higher over 2012, main contribution (72 million kg) was from northern states for the record crop, while southern states posted marginal growth of 2.4 million kg.

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