The Hindu Business Line : Kerala, Assam drag down tea production; exports up in Aug

Chennai, Oct. 9 Adverse weather conditions in Assam and Kerala have cast a negative effect on tea production so far this year, while exports tended to look up in August.

Tea production during January-August this year has been estimated at 576.1 million kg (mkg) against 582.3 mkg during the same period last year. The crop has declined mainly in Kerala, where a prolonged dry spell until June affected the crop.

In fact, the dry spell has hit other plantation crops such as pepper and cardamom also. Among all the tea-growing States, Kerala has accounted for the major decline and it is the only State in the South to witness a fall. Production in Tamil Nadu witnessed a marginal rise, while it was flat in Karnataka.

On the other hand, production in Assam has slipped by four mkg this year, with August registering a 1.5 mkg fall. In Assam, it was heavy monsoon spell that affected the crop.

Heavy rainfall in West Bengal during August also resulted in production being adversely affected. In Bengal, the output in August declined four mkg but overall, it is up 2.4 mkg.

Exports, which have been witnessing a decline this year barring March and April, gained in August, though marginally by 1.15 mkg to 17.06.

Overall for the year, it is estimated to have declined by 19.41 mkg at 103.90 mkg.

Lack of orders from Iraq, a major buyer last year, and Pakistan, which has tended to buy more from India in the last two years, has been the main reason for lacklustre performance.

The other reason for export slipping is that Kenya, whose crop was hit by drought last year, is witnessing an improvement in production and consequently, its shipments have turned competitive in the global market.

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