First harvest of tea in Assam, West Bengal hit by dry spell in March

The primary flush tea harvest loss might be between 5% and 10%, business executives stated.

Tea producers within the area are nervous whether or not the climate will enhance in April for the tea bushes to supply high quality teas.

Additionally a priority for the business is the surge in Covid-19 circumstances, because it may impression motion of tea from the tea estates to the public sale centres and to totally different components of the nation if states impose restrictions to verify the unfold of coronavirus.

The pandemic-induced lockdown final 12 months had impacted tea manufacturing for almost two months.

First flush teas, that are produced in March and April, are exported and are additionally used to clean up the tea blends. Rainfall of as much as six inches is required for first flush teas, however this 12 months the estates have acquired solely two-three inches of rain through the interval.

India produces about 100 million kg of first flush teas yearly. It’s the world’s largest producer of black tea, with annual manufacturing of round 1,390 million kg.

“The climate could be very dry in Assam, the most important tea producing area within the nation. In some tea gardens, it has rained 2 -3 inches, whereas there have been lesser rains in some estates,” stated Azam Monem, director of McLeod Russel India.

Monem stated, “There’s a unusual correlation between Holi and first flush teas additionally. If Holi is delayed, then the primary flush is delayed. So, this 12 months Holi has fallen on the finish of March. So, we expect that it is usually one of many the reason why the primary flush is delayed and there’s no rain.”

Monem stated that although rising Covid-19 circumstances is a matter of concern, the circumstances are much less in rural areas the place the demand is increased.

Dry climate could develop into a serious concern for the tea business because the Indian Meteorological Division (IMD) has stated that summer time this 12 months can be extra extreme in most components of the nation.

In accordance with the IMD, most meteorological sub-divisions and areas alongside the north, northwest and northeast India, along with a couple of areas within the east, will expertise above regular most temperatures (seasonal) throughout March, April and Could.

Areas mendacity alongside the foothills of the Himalayas, the northeastern and southern states are anticipated to see above regular minimal temperatures over the following three months.

Vivek Goenka, chairman, Indian Tea Affiliation (ITA), stated, “Local weather change-induced climate fluctuations is develop into a worrisome concern for tea business. It’s an agricultural crop and is on the mercy of the climate god. Stories trickling in from a few of our affiliation members present that manufacturing in sure estates in Assam goes to be even much less by 20%. We hope that the state of affairs will enhance inside the subsequent few days and it rains.”

Final 12 months, first flush tea manufacturing was affected as a result of pandemic induced lockdown. When tea estates reopened in mid-April, it took a month to prune the bushes.