Tea production down 6 pc to 20.63 million kg in January

NEW DELHI: Tea production fell by 6 per cent to 20.63 million kg in January due to lower output in southern states.

Tea production was 21.92 million kg in the year-ago period, according to the Tea Board data.

Output in Assam, the largest tea-producing state, marginally increased to 0.83 million kg in January this year as compare to 0.80 million kg in the year-ago period.

Similarly, in another major tea producing state of West Bengal production rose by to 2.85 million kg from 1.95 million kg.

The combined production of tea in southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka decreased to 16.79 million kg from 19.12 million kg.

Assam, West Bengal and South India account for about 90 per cent of total tea output in the country.

As per the Indian Tea Association estimates, tea production increased by 6.5 per cent to 1,200 million kg last year, against 1,126.33 million kg in 2012.

India is the world's second-largest producer and biggest consumer of tea. The country's total tea output was up by 3.62 per cent at 1,135 million kg in 2012-13.