Inclement weather since the beginning of 2024 has led to a loss in tea production in north Bengal and the neighbouring state of Assam, revealed data furnished by the Tea Board of India.

While in north Bengal, the production is down by around 21 per cent from January to July vis-a-vis the number during the corresponding period in 2023, the brew belt of Assam has borne a loss of around 11 per cent during the first seven months of the year.

“The production figures reflect a precarious state of affairs, consequent to the constant onslaught of insufficient rainfall and excessive heat till May and excessive rainfall in June and July,” said Sandeep Singhania, president, the Tea Association of India (Tai).

According to the data available with the tea board, in Bengal, 150.01 million kilos of tea were produced from January to July. In Assam, the production during these seven months was 266.46 million kilos.

In 2023, Bengal’s production (during the corresponding period) was 189.55 million kilos while in Assam, 299.39 million kilos was produced in these seven months.

“The planters’ fraternity is perturbed over the situation and it is unlikely the industry would be able to compensate the entire loss by the end of this season. Such detrimental weather has also led to severe pest attacks in the tea estates. Also, due to loss in production, many tea gardens are facing a shortage of liquid funds as they have earned low by selling lesser quantities of tea,” added Singhania.

A senior tea planter based in Siliguri elaborated on how the weather conditions have affected the industry. He pointed out that according to the data of the India Meteorological Department, it has rained 50 percent to 80 percent less from March 1 to May 31 in the tea-growing areas of north Bengal, as compared to the normal rainfall that the region experiences during this period.

“On the other hand, in June and July, it rained more than the average rainfall in the region, which reduced the yield in tea plantations. Again, in August, there was a decrease in rainfall while the temperature soared during the daytime. Such situations have affected the crop and thus, the production,” he said.

According to the planters, in 2024, the total production is likely to be 160 to 170 million kilos less than last year.

Auction impact

The production of less tea in the states of Bengal and Assam this year, however, has led to an increase in auction prices.

According to the tea board, the average auction price of tea till August in the north India segment is ₹221.18 per kilo, which is higher than last year’s average price (till August) of ₹188.55 per kilo.

“There has been a rise of around 13 per cent in prices. However, in Bengal, the average hike in price is around seven per cent, which however cannot meet the production loss of 21 per cent,” said Prabir Bhattacharjee, the secretary general of Tai.