Tea production in the country has increased marginally during the first half of the calendar year, even as south Indian production fell by 3.5 million kg. According to figures provided by the United Planters Association of South India (Upasi), total tea output in H1stood at 334.71 million kg as against 333.30 million kg in 2006.
Erratic weather, including a spell of drought brought down production by almost 12% in Kerala. Production dropped by 4.19 million kg during the six months in Kerala to 31.34 million kg.
Severe drought conditions in most of the tea plantations in south India during March and April affected the production, Paulose Joseph of Forbes Ewart & Figgis told FE. Lack of effective summer showers and increase in temperature during the noon and mist during night has taken their toll in Kerala, a spokesperson for Tata Tea said. Production in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has increased marginally. Total production in south India stood at 109.37 million kg while in north India it stood at 220.45 million kg.
The drop in south India was made good by increased production in north India, especially West Bengal which has registered an increase of 8.4 million kg. The production was also lean in north India during January and February with some fall in output, but it soon recouped with favourable weather conditions. North India accounts for 80% of the country?s tea production and exports.
Tea production rose 3% to 965.9 million kg in 2006 from 2005 as good weather lifted output, especially in the north. India?s tea exports reached 203.8 million kg in 2006, topping 200 million kg for the first time since 2002 mainly due to a drought in Kenya and India?s tapping of emerging markets.