The Hindu Business Line : Frost may affect tea output in Nilgiris

Coonoor, Dec. 3 First indications of frost have appeared in the Nilgiris. Frost conditions prevailing in the low lying areas of the Nilgiris are likely to pull down the tea production this month.

In many interior parts of the district, night temperature has been falling to around 2 to 4 degrees Celsius on and off. Generally, the temperature rules in single digits.

Plantations in Kundah, Manjoor, Naduvattam, Nanjanad, Ithlar, Lawrence and Emerald valley have suffered mild attacks.

“It is early to gauge the intensity of the frost, but definitely, the impact is visible. In some areas, the leaf has been charred. The growth is inwards. The juice has thinned. If the frost conditions continue, the adverse impact would be wide spread. Reduction in harvest in the coming weeks is certain,”Mr. T. Rangaiah, President, Nilgiris Small Tea Growers’ Association, told Business Line.

Arrivals hit

Low harvest is impacting the arrivals of fresh teas to the auctions. At the Coonoor Tea Trade auctions, last week, only 9 lakh kgs had been offered. This was the lowest of the last 25 weeks. It was as much as 3.37 lakh kgs lower than the offer this time last year.

For this week sale also, the volume catalogued is low at 9.37 lakh kgs.

But, the low volume has helped the producers focus on quality.

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