Tea production in the Nilgiris, the largest tea growing district in the South, has fallen by 18.7 per cent in the first three quarters of current calendar compared to the same period of 2011.
Production data from corporate sector shows the total output till September as 9.30 million kg (mkg) against 11.44 mkg last year.
This reduction of 2.14 mkg posts a decline of 18.7 per cent.
The production has been lower than the average trend as well because the five-year mean output for Jan-Sept period was 10.84 mkg.
Almost every company has posted a reduction in its yield.
Prolonged dry condition is said to be main cause for lower output.
Rainfall
Meteorological data shows that the cumulative rainfall received in the nine months was less than last year in all the agro-climatic zones in the Nilgiris.
Udhagamandalam received the highest cumulative rainfall of 54.7 cm (last year: 85.4 cm), followed by Kundah 48.4 (90.2), Kotagiri 45 (67.6), Coonoor 39.4 (69) and Kullakamby 32.3 (56.1).
Tea estates around Coonoor received heavy downpour this weekend totalling 18 cm.
Consequently, the total rainfall received in the first half of October was 29 cm against 8 cm last year.
However, the cumulative rainfall received continues to be lower because of earlier dry months.
Collectively, from January 1 till mid-October, tea estates in Coonoor received 77 cm against 100 cm last year.
Based on these, companies have projected a 16 per cent reduction in their overall production this calendar over last year’s output of 14.82 mkg.