Economic Survey: Tea, coffee production to increase in the country

NEW DELHI: The Economic Survey on Friday observed that tea and coffee production in the country is expected to increase, which augurs well for exporters of the beverages.

The post monsoon coffee production is expected to rise by four per cent at 2,99,000 tonnes for the year 2010-11 as against 2,89,000 tonnes in the corresponding period last year, the report tabled in Parliament said.

Likewise, tea production is expected to rise marginally by 2 per cent to 991.18 million kg in 2009-10 as against 972.77 million kg in the year-ago period, it added.

Tea originationg from Darjeeling, Assam and the Nilgiris are well-known for their distinctive flavours the world over, the survey observed.

Coffee is predominantly an export-oriented commodity in India with 65 to 70 per cent of the production being exported, thereby, earning considerable foreign exchange, the survey tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.