Kolkata, March 6 (IANS): India’s estimated tea production in January 2018 stood at 17.15 million kg - down by 10.49% from 19.16 million kg produced in the year-ago month, according to Tea Board India data. According to the estimated production data, the decrease of 2.01 million kg in January was mainly due to fall in production in north India. In north India, Assam’s production for the month was stagnant at 1.32 mn kg as compared to 1.31 mn kg produced in the corresponding month of 2017 while West Bengal’s production for the month stood at 3.33 mn kg, down by 25.66% from 4.48 mn kg produced in the same month of 2017. Taking Assam, West Bengal and others together, the estimated crop during month under review in north India decreased by 20.49% to 4.81 million kg as against 6.05 mn kg produced in January 2017. In south India, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, the tea production decreased by 5.87% to 12.34 mn kg in January 2018 as against 13.11 mn kg produced in same month last year. In India, small growers produced 8.32 mn kg in January 2018, as against 9.85 mn kg produced by them in the year-ago month.
