PRODUCTION -- 21:

NILGIRI TEA SECTOR LOOKING FOR BETTER CROP IN APRIL

P S SUNDAR

                   The drought-hit tea plantations in the Nilgiris are looking forward to better crop by mid-April, thanks to the recent showers.

No agro-zone of the district reported any rainfall during February.  Then first two weeks of March were also dry.   Last week, some plantations received consecutive rains for three days – ranging from 19 to 24 cms in different agro-zones.

“Late showers had delayed our top quality high-grown winter speciality teas.  Now, such teas are in the market and the supply will go on for some weeks in April.  Plantations have lost 30 to 40 per cent of their normal crop this winter due to prolonged dryness and harsh winter conditions”, G Udayakumar, Director, Avataa Beverages, told Business Line.  

A market-leader in Nilgiri winter speciality teas, Avataa’s silver needles had fetched ` 11,550 a kg in the last speciality tea auctions.

“Last week’s rains are a blessing to tea bushes.  Now, greenery is returning in our Billimalai Estate with the leaves stocking the much needed juice for speciality manufacture.  The quantity is low but picking up while the quality is peaking reflecting the winter characteristics of the teas filling up the order books from both upcountry connoisseurs and exporters”, Avataa Speciality Tea Production Executive ENR Vejayashekara said.   

“There is mild breeze now reducing the temperature for the tea bushes to comfortable levels.  If we get a couple of more showers, the output of standard green leaf and hence the manufactured speciality tea will raise considerably”, he added.   

“Drought has affected the arrival of tea for auctions.   Last week’s offer of 8.99 lakh kg at our auctions was the lowest volume so far in calendar 2017”, Ramesh Bhojarajan, Chairman, Coonoor Tea Trade Association, said.

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