Drought hits tea plantations in South India
Kochi: Inclement weather has hit tea plantations of Kerala leading to a decline in production. Output has slumped at Kanan Devan Hill Plantations (KDHP) and Harrisons Malayalam Plantations (HML), two major tea corporates in South India, in the current year due to an extended drought following the failure of north east monsoon and frost over the last few weeks.
KDHP, the largest tea plantation in South India, had suffered heavy loss last year after a strike by the women workers.
“This year, we started well and were in line for profit. But the drought resulting from fail ure of north east monsoon and the frost have adversely affected production,“ said Mathew Abraham, KDHP, MD.
Insufficient north east monsoons have dried up water resources making irrigation difficult. “Irrigation is out of question as water resources are scarce,“ said C Vinayaraghavan, CEO, HML. The company has several estates in Wayanad where the weather is hot. KDHP expects production to be down 10% this year. The company produces over 20 million kg every year. Tea prices in South India have been ruling at Rs 110-115kg during the year.
KDHP, the largest tea plantation in South India, had suffered heavy loss last year after a strike by the women workers.
“This year, we started well and were in line for profit. But the drought resulting from fail ure of north east monsoon and the frost have adversely affected production,“ said Mathew Abraham, KDHP, MD.
Insufficient north east monsoons have dried up water resources making irrigation difficult. “Irrigation is out of question as water resources are scarce,“ said C Vinayaraghavan, CEO, HML. The company has several estates in Wayanad where the weather is hot. KDHP expects production to be down 10% this year. The company produces over 20 million kg every year. Tea prices in South India have been ruling at Rs 110-115kg during the year.
