Heavy rainfall and floods can cut tea production by 25%

KOLKATA: India’s tea production is likely to drop by nearly 20-25 per cent in July compared to last year as heavy rains and a flood like situation in Dooars and Darjeeling in North Bengal have affected tea production.

Flood water has entered many tea estates and even factories where black teas are produced. A portion of Goodricke Group’s Leesh river tea estate has completely been washed away.

Talking to ET, AN Singh, CEO, Goodricke Group said, "The situation is extremely worrisome in Dooars. Water has entered labourers’ quarters and in some cases in factories as well.

"Over the last five days, estates in Dooars have received 40 inches of rainfall which is quite alarming. Once floodwater recedes there will be pest attack which will affect the tea leaves."

Singh added that this will definitely bring down tea production by 20-25 per cent in July alone. Dooars had produced 23.99 million kg of tea in July 2015. The total production in India was 154.37 million kg in July.

In 2015, India had produced 1208.66 million kg of tea. Dooars region annually produces 300 million kg of tea.

According to tea planters, around 30 estates are under water in Terai and Dooars.

Such sudden inundation of plantations and roads that connect these tea estates has led to halt in plucking and processing of tealeaves.

Rains have affected Darjeeling tea production as well. The July crop is expected to be lower by 50 per cent due to the heavy rains, said SS Bagaria, chairman, Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA).

In July 2015, Darjeeling had produced 1.44 million kg of tea. The 87 tea estates in Darjeeling area produces 8.5 – 9 million kg of tea annually.