Tea output in the south drops by 10% on climate change, planters stressed

South Indian varieties have a 17% share in total tea production in India, and a 40% share in the country's exports

South Indian tea output has dropped by around 10 per cent to 225 million kg and is unlikely to recover this year. Planters say they are going through a stressful period due to climate change and their inability to fetch remunerative prices for their produce.

According to United Planters' Association of Southern India (Upasi), the apex body of planters of tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom and pepper in the southern states, production of tea is estimated to be around 225 million kg as against an average output of 240-250 million kg.

The decline in output was attributed more to climate issues