India’s tea output falls 9.65% in Oct.

Friday, 24 December 2010 00:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Coonoor: India’s tea production in October fell by 9.65 per cent over October 2009, reveals an analysis of the latest data available with the Tea Board and producers’ organisations.

The country produced 120.74 million kg (mkg) against 133.64 mkg in October 2009, a decline of 12.90 mkg.

The bulk of the decline happened in North India where the output fell by 12.94 mkg to 99.24 mkg. In the South, there was a marginal increase of 36,000 kg to 21.50 mkg.

All the regions of the North posted lower production owing to adverse weather conditions. Assam, the country’s largest tea-producing State, lost 10.54 mkg to 72.12 mkg. West Bengal posted a lower output in all its major tea growing districts — Darjeeling, Dooars and Terai. In all, the State lost 2.16 mkg to record an output of 25.46 mkg.

In the South, Tamil Nadu lost marginally to account for 14.43 mkg. Kerala gained marginally, to reach 6.41 mkg.

Cumulatively, in the 10 months, India’s tea production fell by 2 per cent to 813.74 mkg. Production in the corresponding period of last year was 830.36 mkg — 16.62 mkg more.