India’s tea production in the April-December period of the current fiscal rose by 9% and stood at 1,116.98 million kg compared to the production of 1,025.01 million kg in the same period of the 2012-13 financial year, as per report compiled by the Tea Board. This higher production of tea can be credited to higher output in state of Assam and West Bengal. The country’s total tea output was up by 3.62% at 1,135 million kg in 2012-13.
Assam, West Bengal and South India are the major regions that account for about 90% of total tea output in the country. Output in Assam, the largest tea-producing state, was up 5% and stood at 607.83 million kg in the April-December period of 2013-14, from 577.13 million kg in the year-ago period. In another major tea producing state, West Bengal, production rose by 11% and stood at 290 million kg from 262.06 million kg. Besides, the combined production of tea in the south Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka increased 16% to 195.97 million kg from 168.42 million kg.
India is the world’s second-largest producer and biggest consumer of tea. As per report compiled by the Indian Tea Association, the country’s tea production has increased by 6.5% and stood at 1,200 million kg in 2013, against 1,126.33 million kg a year ago.