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The Tea Board has fixed ₹13/kg as the district average price for the green leaf to be purchased by bought-leaf factories from small growers in the Nilgiris throughout January.
“All bought-leaf factories have been instructed to pay this price while buying green leaf till January 31. We have instructed all our field officials to ensure that no factory in their jurisdiction pays less than this price,” said Tea Board Deputy Director CS Hariprakash.
Highest price This is the highest price in the last six months after ₹14 in June 2016. The price was ₹12 in July, ₹11.50 in August, ₹11 in September and October, and ₹12.50 in November and December. Meanwhile, bought-leaf factories are facing a production crunch due to the winter and the festival season in the Nilgiris.
The winter has been harsh for over a month with night temperature crashing to single digits.
The Nilgiris is now celebrating Hethaiamman festival, the major festival of the Badaga, the predominant local community in the district. The Tamil Nadu government had declared a local holiday on January 3. However, the festival is being celebrated in various parts of the district almost for one month.
Consequently, tea plucking activity has been affected, as workers and small growers have been going from one place to other celebrating the festival.
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