Bumper tea production in Assam recovers losses caused by weather

Guwahati, Nov 8: The tea industry in Assam has not only witnessed a good produce between September and October, but also managed to overcome the shortfall it had recorded early this year owing to bad weather.

Dipanjal Deka, Secretary of the Tea Association of India based in Guwahati, said that Assam has managed to make up for the loss in production, which it had suffered in the beginning of the year.

'We have already made up our losses. In fact, the all India figures are about 10 million behind. It is mainly because of south India, but in north India particularly Assam, we are quite ahead,' Deka said.

As per Deka, during the initial months of this year, especially during the April-May period, Assam tea industry had posted a shortfall of around nine to fifteen million kilogram of tea, lagging by 15 percent.

This loss has now been fully recovered, owing to the unprecedented crop production in the last month.

'The best part is that the tea prices are also quite good. The national average is more than Rs. 100, around 100 to 110. Last year it was in 90s around 93 or so. The national average has come out good and the tea prices are also good,' Deka added.

Assam produces half of the country's tea production, which is about 450 million kilogram per year.

--ANI