The Nilgiris, the largest tea growing district in South India, is heading for a higher production this calendar over last year.

This arises from the tea companies reporting a 12.37 per cent higher production till last month.

July was an exceptionally good month for production as tea companies have reported to Tea Board an output of 1.18 million kg (mkg) against a mere 0.78 mkg in July 2012.

This meant an increase of 0.40 mkg on month-over-month analysis which works out to a 51.28 per cent increase. It was also more than the five-year average production for the month of 1.04 mkg.

Collectively, in the seven months, the Nilgiris tea companies have reported a production of 8.63 mkg against 7.68 mkg in Jan-July 2012. This marks an increase of 0.95 mkg or 12.37 per cent.

The cumulative production is more than the five-year average for Jan-July period of 8.49 mkg.

The tea companies in the Nilgiris have reported an average yield of 181 kg/hectare in July against 119 kg/hectare in July 2012. Almost every estate has reported a higher yield this year.

Till July in the current fiscal, the cumulative average yield in the Nilgiris was 874 kg/hectare ( 759 kg/hectare). This marked a growth of 15.2 per cent. If this trend continues, the district will yield a higher crop in the current year.

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