PRODUCTION -- 18:

INDIAN TEA OUTPUT IN JANUARY UP 6%

P S SUNDAR

                   Indian tea industry has had a good beginning in 2017 showing signs of yet another record production this calendar.

“Tea Board has now released the official production data for January at 18.99 million kg (mkg) against 17.95 mkg in January 2016”, Rajesh Gupta, compiler of annual Global Tea Digest told me.

This increase of 1.04 mkg marks a growth of six per cent, thereby promising chances of higher output over last year.  This is significant because India’s tea production in 2016 was all-time high at 1239 mkg.

“Production increased in January because of a massive rise in North India as South India posted a decline”, Gupta said.   

North Indian production rose by as much as 74 per cent to touch 5.86 mkg from 3.37 mkg.   Assam Valley reported a shortfall of eight per cent at 0.46 mkg; all other regions reported higher production.

South Indian production dropped by 10 per cent to fall to 13.13 mkg from 14.58 mkg due to adverse weather.  Tamil Nadu topped the country’s production table at 9.25 mkg, down by one per cent over January 2016. 

Kerala lost as much as 26 per cent with production falling to 3.56 mkg from 4.79 mkg.

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