PRODUCTION -- 20:

NILGIRIS FEB TEA OUTPUT DOWN 29%

P S SUNDAR

Tea companies in the Nilgiris have informed Tea Board that their production in February had fallen by 29.21 per cent and the cumulative output in the first two months by 9.89 per cent.

February was a dry month with no agro-climatic zone in the district receiving any rainfall.

Consequently, the harvest of green leaf was low and factories functioned far below their capacity.

This was reflected it their production falling to 0.82 million kg (mkg) from 1.17 mkg in February 2016.   This fall of 0.35 mkg marked a decline of 29.91 per cent.

The five-year mean production for February was 0.88 mkg and so, February 2017 output was 6.82 per cent lower than this.

The cumulative output in the two months dropped to 1.64 mkg from 1.82 mkg.  This fall of 0.18 mkg marked a decline of 9.89 per cent.

The five-year mean production in the two months was 1.75 mkg and so, Jan-Feb 2017 output was 6.29 per cent lower than this.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)