Rains wash off tea's premium edge
KOLKATA: An incessant rain in the 87 tea estates of Darjeeling is likely to affect the production of first flush tea which is sold in the world markets at a premium.
Industry executives say that if the rains do not stop within the next one week, production of first flush tea may fall by 15%-20%.
This has come at a time when prices of early first flush tea that was produced in the first half of March were fetching 10% higher rates than last year in private sales. The average price of early first flush tea has been around Rs 2,220 per kg. Talking to ET, SS Bag aria, for mer chair man, Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA), said: “There have been heavy rains since the middle of last month. For good growth, first flush tea requires rains at night and sunlight in the morning. But this time it is only raining and there is no sunshine, which is affecting the growth of tea bushes."
Of the total Darjeeling tea production of 9 million kg, first flush tea makes up around 2.7 million kg. Last year, India produced 70.70 million kg of tea in March alone.Of this, 55.31 million kg was produced by Assam and West Bengal.The overall tea production in 2016 stood at 1,239 million kg.
In Assam and Dooars bush dormancy (that is tea bushes failing to produce leaves for plucking) and heavy rains in certain parts are likely to bring down total tea production by 30% during March, feel planters.
Drop in output could be between 15% and 30% in different areas in the two states as the tea bushes are over stressed, Indian Tea Association chair man Azam Monem said while exuding hope that the situation may improve from this month.
“In 2016, tea bushes had produced leaves for plucking and processing till mid-December. Rains in November boosted tea production last year. Generally, production starts tapering down from mid-November and by the first week of December, majority of the gardens stop producing tea," Monem said.
Industry executives say that if the rains do not stop within the next one week, production of first flush tea may fall by 15%-20%.
This has come at a time when prices of early first flush tea that was produced in the first half of March were fetching 10% higher rates than last year in private sales. The average price of early first flush tea has been around Rs 2,220 per kg. Talking to ET, SS Bag aria, for mer chair man, Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA), said: “There have been heavy rains since the middle of last month. For good growth, first flush tea requires rains at night and sunlight in the morning. But this time it is only raining and there is no sunshine, which is affecting the growth of tea bushes."
Of the total Darjeeling tea production of 9 million kg, first flush tea makes up around 2.7 million kg. Last year, India produced 70.70 million kg of tea in March alone.Of this, 55.31 million kg was produced by Assam and West Bengal.The overall tea production in 2016 stood at 1,239 million kg.
In Assam and Dooars bush dormancy (that is tea bushes failing to produce leaves for plucking) and heavy rains in certain parts are likely to bring down total tea production by 30% during March, feel planters.
Drop in output could be between 15% and 30% in different areas in the two states as the tea bushes are over stressed, Indian Tea Association chair man Azam Monem said while exuding hope that the situation may improve from this month.
“In 2016, tea bushes had produced leaves for plucking and processing till mid-December. Rains in November boosted tea production last year. Generally, production starts tapering down from mid-November and by the first week of December, majority of the gardens stop producing tea," Monem said.
