India has managed to post another record tea production in calendar 2017 despite a fall in North Indian output, thanks to higher production in the South.
“The Tea Board has now released the production data for December as per which, India’s output rose to 70.06 million kg (mkg) from 64 mkg in December 2016. This increase of 6.06 mkg marked a growth of 9.47 per cent,” Rajesh Gupta, compiler of ‘Global Tea Digest 2017’, told BusinessLine.
In the recent years, India’s production has been posting new records year after year. Till August also, the country was hoping to post another record output this year, but in September, the weather played truant pulling down the North Indian production. October brought in new hopes and November and December continued to maintain it, thanks to better situation in South Indian plantations.
“Our compilation shows that in the 12 months of 2017, India’s production has increased to 1,278.83 mkg from 1,267.36 mkg in 2016. This increase of 11.47 mkg marks a marginal growth of 0.91 per cent,” Gupta said.
North Indian overall output in 2017 dropped to 1,046.42 mkg from 1,054.51 mkg due to adverse weather conditions in many months, marking a marginal loss of 0.77 per cent. On the contrary, South Indian output increased to 232.41 mkg from 212.85 mkg, marking a gain of 9.19 per cent.
Assam continued to top the country’s production table at 653.53 mkg, but it was less by 15.99 mkg over 2016. West Bengal produced 367.98 mkg (up 11.68 mkg).
In the South, Tamil Nadu produced 164.70 mkg (up 18.66 mkg) and Kerala 62.33 mkg (up 0.93 mkg).