The Hindu Business Line : Nilgiris tea output down 5.2% in June

Coonoor, July 7 Nilgiris June tea crop has fallen compared to June last year because of low rainfall, but cumulative production in the first half of calendar 2008 was more than the corresponding period of last calendar, according to UPASI Tea Research Foundation.

Production in its member estates during January-June rose to 8.10 million kgs from 6.34 million kgs last year. The five-year average production was 7.23 million kgs.

The output would have been still higher had it not been for a 5.2 per cent fall recorded in June over last year. Crop was mentionably low in the south-west monsoon zones of Kundah and Udhagamandalam. Kotagiri zone also posted a low output. But, Coonoor and Kullakamby agro-climatic zones harvested a higher crop.

In June, the member estates produced 1.21 million kgs against 1.27 million kgs in June last year and the five-year average of 1.34 million kgs.

All agro-climatic zones in Nilgiris district have received a lower rainfall in June compared to last year. In the south-west monsoon zones, the rainfall received was lower than both last year and the decennial average. In Udhagamandalam zone, only 10.2 cms of rainfall were received against 41.7 cms in June 2007 and decennial average of 19.8 cms. Kundah received 9.7 cms (60.7 and 21.8), Coonoor 6.9 cms (9.8 and 4.8), Kotagiri 6.7 cms (16.9 and 7.8) and Kullakamby 3.7 cms (8.4 and 4.2).

The cumulative scenario, however, was mixed because of good showers in March. In the first half of calendar 2008, Coonoor agro-climatic zone received the highest rainfall of 80.1 cms (31.5 cms last year and 37.7 cms five-year average), Kotagiri 77 cms (40.8 and 47.7), Kundah 74.3 cms (76.8 and 47), Kullakamby 62.8 cms (29.6 and 33.8) and Udhagamandalam 41.5 cms (68.2 and 42.6).