Lower rains in NE, North Bengal may hit tea production

Kolkata, Aug 20 (UNI) The tea production may be affected this year owing to lower rainfall in the Northeast and North Bengal.

The drought-like situation and high temperature in Darjeeling hills is posing a threat to the tea industry in north Bengal, which has already suffered a crop loss of Rs 100 crore, Tea Research Association Chief Advisor Pradeep Ghose said.

The crop loss might rise to above Rs 200 crore if the dry spell continued till the month end, India Tea Association's (ITA's) Dooars branch secretary Prabir Bhattacharjee said adding that the industry is already short of its production target by 15 million kg, which is 20 per cent of the average annual production.

The rainfall was 70 mm to 100 mm in the tea belt of north Bengal against an expected 800 mm. In the Dooars the temperature was hovering around 39 degrees celcius to 40 degree celcius leading to drying up of tea leaves, industry sources said.

Tea production in the Northeast has been lower at 215.38 million kilograms till June as compared to 217.03 million kilograms during the same period last year, according to Tea Board.

Production in Assam and North Bengal constituted nearly 70 per cent of the total tea production.

Total production during January-June 2006 stood at Rs 328.22 million kilograms lower from last year's 338.51 million kilograms for the period, according to the figures released by the Board.

In South India too, production in the six months declined to 112.84 million kilogram from 121.48 million kilogram.

UNI XC/TJP BA AB 1822