Tea production in the Nilgiris, South India’s largest tea producing district, has risen by 6.51 per cent in the first quarter of current calendar over the same period of last year.

Tea corporates have informed Tea Board of a production totalling 2,92 million kg (mkg) from January to March against 2.73 mkg in the same period last year. However, the production is down compared to the five-year average of 3.02 mkg.

Although the cumulative rainfall was lower than the 10-year decennial average, there was some improvement in the rainfall situation in the first quarter compared to last year. This helped higher harvest.

Higher volume is helping turnover to rise at auctions. The turnover at last week’s auction of Coonoor Tea Trade Association which ended on Friday has risen to six-week high despite a fall of Rs 2 a kg in the price because of over 1.50 lakh kg increase in the volume sold compared to last week.

The average price fell to Rs 102.82 a kg from Rs 105.09 last week. For the seventh consecutive week, prices ruled above Rs 100-a-kg mark.

In all, 8.80 lakh kg was sold against 7.34 lakh kg last week. This was the highest volume sold in six weeks. Consequently, the turnover rose to Rs 9.05 crore from Rs 7.71 crore. This meant that the turnover increased by Rs 1.34 crore or 17.38 per cent in just one week.

This month, red spider mite infestation is reported in many estates.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW