Dry spell, sporadic rainfall take a toll on tea production in March

Problem acute for prized Darjeeling tea, which is crucial for tea companies' revenue

Changing weather, marked by a dry spell and sporadic rainfall, and low soil temperatures affected tea production in various parts of India in March.

Empirical data shows a 35-50 per cent decline in the March crop in North India compared to the previous year, said Hemant Bangur, chairman of the Indian Tea Association (ITA).

Tea Research Association (TRA) estimates a 35-40 per cent decline in the crop in North Bengal in February and March. "Upper Assam is about 40 per cent down. In the rest of Assam, the shortage is around 20-25 per cent," said Joydeep Phukan, secretary of TRA. Full data for March is not fully available, but the crop in North India is expected to improve in April, he said.

The crop in South India too is affected by dry weather conditions. "Except for some localised drizzle, there have been practically no rains in the last two-three months. The agro-climatic conditions were not favourable for the crop in March. The April crop is also expected to be affected due to a drought-like situation," said Sanjith R Nair, secretary of The United Planters’ Association of Southern India (UPASI).

Crop in March 2023 was low too.

Darjeeling first flush

North Bengal and Assam have had deficient rainfall. The problem is acute in Darjeeling, where the March crop is crucial for tea companies’ revenue. The first flush, a prized Darjeeling tea, is harvested from February end to the middle of May.

Anshuman Kanoria, chairman of the Indian Tea Exporters Association, said that the first flush production in March is expected to decrease 80 per cent compared to the same period last year. "This is due to drought with no rain for five and a half months. After that, there was one week of continuous rain resulting in lower temperatures with no growth of the leaf."

"We expect a good flush from the second week of April. However, the ability to pluck timely, given the absenteeism (of workers) and handling of the rush of leaf, will determine the quality of produce. The quality period is expected to be shorter this year, and the loss of the crucial March crop will negatively impact the revenues of a struggling Darjeeling tea industry," Kanoria added.

Vikash Kandoi, executive director of Jay Shree Tea & Industries, said the first flush is the most lucrative crop in terms of Darjeeling tea price. "It finds a home in the export markets of Germany and Japan mostly. And we have lost almost 75 per cent of the crop in March."

"There is a shortage of the first flush, and while we are seeing healthy demand, revenues will be much lower due to the crop shortage. This is a critical problem as this is Darjeeling’s peak quality period," Kandoi said.

Assam crop

"We had drought conditions for most of March all across Assam. The soil temperature, which should be between 22 to 24 degrees Celsius, was lower," said Himanshu Shah, chairman of M K Shah Exports.

In March 2023, Assam had a record tea crop. "The normal crop in March is 3 per cent of the annual crop. Last year, it was almost 5 per cent, and this year it will be 2-2.5 per cent," Shah said.

The April crop is expected to be normal but it is unlikely to make up for the deficit in March, said Shah.

North India, including West Bengal and Assam in industry terms, accounts for about 83 per cent of the country's tea production.

Changing weather

TRA’s Phukan said that industry trend for the last few years has been that the last rains are at the end of October or early November. "After that, there is a dry spell for three to four months. Darjeeling is most affected."

ITA chairman Bangur said the data shows that the organised industry (big growers) has lost one per cent of the crop every year for a decade.

"The major reason is changing weather patterns. There are much more extreme climate conditions – too much heat during summers, torrential rains during the monsoon. The spread of rainfall used to be much more uniform, but is now much more concentrated," he said.

"People are irrigating, but irrigation comes at a cost and cannot create the microclimate required for larger harvests," Bangur said.

Data on the Tea Board website shows that big growers accounted for about 47.99 per cent of the total tea production in 2022-23 and small ones formed the balance. In 2018-19, the share of big growers stood at 51.59 per cent.

UPASI’s Nair said that climate change has affected tea production. "South India’s production peaked in 2010 at 243 million kg. In the last decade, we have not been able to reach that level of production and we are averaging around 230-235 million kg. The major reason is climate change challenges."

Tea production

2022-23

- Big growers: 659.96 million kg

- Small growers 715.01 million kg

- Total: 1374.97 million kg

2018-19

- Big growers: 696.49 million kg

- Small growers: 653.55 million kg

Total: 1350.04 million kg

Source: Tea Board