Indian and Assam Tea Production Fall in 2024: Tea Board of India

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: True to predictions, the annual production of Indian tea, including Assam tea, decreased in the calendar year 2024 when compared to that in 2023. According to the latest statistics provided by the Tea Board of India, production of tea in the country as a whole fell by 108.88 million kg in 2024. Assam's share in the decrease of 108.88 million kg comes to 38.49 million kg.

The statistics reveal that India as a whole produced 1284.78 million kg of tea from January to December 2024. The figure for the twelve months of 2023 stood at 1393.66 million kg. This shows a fall in tea production in India to the tune of 108.88 million kg.

As for Assam, the largest tea manufacturing state in the country, the production in the calendar year of 2024 was 649.84 million kg. In 2023, Assam produced a total of 688.33 million kg of tea. This indicates a shortfall of 38.49 million kg in 2024 when compared to tea production in 2023.

The report of the Tea Board of India for state-wise and month-wise tea production for the year 2024 specifically sums up the production of Assam tea throughout the year. In January the tea production was 0.16 million kg, in February it was 0.30 million kg, in March 21.45 million kg, in April 43.17 million kg, in May it was 50.17 million kg, in June 75.91 million kg, in July 79.55 million kg, in August 104.46 million kg, in September 89.98 million kg, in October 111.52 million kg, in November 66.44 million kg, and in December the tea production was 6.33 million kg. It is, however, mentioned in the report that the figures from April to December 2024 are provisional and subject to revision.

Tea Board sources stated that the primary reason for the fall in Assam's tea production can be attributed to climate change, which resulted in lesser production of tea per hectare of land. There was an increase in maximum temperature in the state during the peak tea season. Tea leaves cannot withstand very high temperatures, and this led to the withering of the tea leaves and the resultant fall in production, the sources pointed out. Also, tea bushes require a uniform rainfall, which was not the case last year. When there was rainfall, it was either scanty or continuously heavy. The ideal weather conditions for optimum tea production are sunlight during the daytime and rainfall at night, the sources added.

 Also READ: Tea Season 2024 Concludes in Assam as per Tea Board of India Directive

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