The Hindu Business Line : Tea production down on shortage of rains

Turning cold
South Indian production up at 70 million kg.
North Indian output declines by over 10 million kg.
January-April exports slip to 45.37 million kg from 56.89 million kg.

Kolkata , June 6

Nothing appears to be going right for the Indian tea industry, at least, for the first four months of 2006. Production is affected partially due to shortage of rains and exports are down too.

According to the statistics issued by the Tea Board, tea production in 2006 is down by more than six per cent and North India is the worst affected region compared to South India.

In the three South Indian tea growing States, production in the January-April period, grew marginally by 0.5 million kg to 70 million kg.

Only in Kerala, it was it was down by 0.4 million kg. While it stagnated at Karnataka, Tamil Nadu registered a growth of 0.9 million to 46.5 million kg.

Drought hit

The North Indian tea-growing States of Assam and West Bengal were affected by the drought. In the first four months, Assam's total production was down to 59.5 million kg compared with 64 million kg in the corresponding period of 2005.

In West Bengal, Darjeeling was not affected by shortage of rains and its production of 2 million kg was same as that of the last year. However, Dooars and Terai were affected.

In the both these centres, production was down by more than three million kg. In Dooars it dropped to 13.9 million kg and in Terai it fell to 8.6 million kg.

Total North Indian production during January-April 2006 was 84.4 million kg as against 95.3 million kg in the corresponding period of 2005 marking a fall of 11.4 per cent.

Bleak picture

On the export front, the statistics revealed an even bleaker picture. In 2006, tea exports failed to cross the last year's figures in all the four months barring March when it touched the 14.7 million kg marking a growth of 2.62 million kg.

In January, exports dropped to 11.17 million kg from 15.83 million. In February, tea exports were 10.68 million kg as against 19.42 million kg in the corresponding month of 2005.

Despite the partial growth in March, total exports in the January-March period was down to 36.55 million kg against 47.33 million kg in the previous year. Exports were down in April but partially.

Compared with 9.56 million kg of exports in 2005, it fell to 8.82 million kg in 2006.

Total exports during the January-April were down by over 20 per cent and ended at 45.37 million as against 56.89 million kg in the corresponding period of 2005.

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