PS Sundar

Tea companies in The Nilgiris, the largest tea growing district in the South, have reported to the Tea Board that their production in February was 0.71 million kg (mkg) against 0.78 mkg in February 2018, marking a loss of 8.97 per cent.

The loss was more compared to normal production as measured by the five-year mean for the month, which was 0.87 mkg. This meant that production in February was 18.39 per cent lower than the normal level.

Because there was better output in January, the cumulative production in the first two months of the current year rose to 1.55 mkg from 1.51 mkg in January-February 2018, marking a gain of 2.65 per cent.

However, this cumulative production was less compared to the normal level as measured by the five-year mean for the two months which was 1.69 mkg. This meant that the production so far this year was 8.28 per cent less than the normal level.

Last month, plantations in the district suffered dry weather as there was only sporadic rainfall with little moisture precipitation in the soil.

Besides, the Tea Research Foundation of the United Planters’ Association of Southern India (UPASI) had identified about 586 hectares in The Nilgiris to have suffered frost attack in January. This is another reason for the production in February to be lower than last year and the normal level.

Meanwhile, the lower production and hence the reduced supplies at the auctions have pushed up the prices to almost two-year high.

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