Inclement weather condition affecting tea production in Assam

GUWAHATI: Incessant rainfall accompanied by hailstorm has severely affected tea bushes in Assam, India’s largest tea producer, and planters are worried that this will affect production of premium variety second flush tea.

Second flush tea accounts for 20% of the total tea production, and commands a premium in the domestic and international markets. In upper Assam, some tea estates were flooded following the heavy rains. Assam has already recorded 125% of its normal rainfall, 25% above normal, during the current pre-monsoon period.
“Several tea growing areas have reported flooding in tea estates. Tea leafs were severely affected by the hailstorm which occurred on several days.

There was continuous downpour for two to three weeks in April this year,” secretary of Tea Association of India, Guwahati, Dipanjal Deka, told ET. The second flush production is from May end to July.

“The production of second flush tea will definitely get affected this year,” said Deka.

All Assam Small Tea Growers’ Association (AASTGA) vice president Karuna Mahanta said, “At present, green leaf production is low. Even prices of green leaf are on the lower side.”

India’s production in the year 2014 was 1207.31 million kgs, of which Assam’s production was 610.97 million kgs. In 2015, India accounted for 1191m kgs of tea production, and Assam roughly produced 614.57m kgs.