Tea production in April dips by 24.48%

New Delhi: India's tea production in April this year fell by 24.48 percent to 56.77 million kg due to lower output in Assam and other regions.

The production stood at 75.17 million kg in April 2013, according to Tea Board data.
Output in Assam, the largest tea-producing state, decreased by 40.34 percent to 25.33 million kg in
April this year from 42.46 million kg a year earlier.

However, in West Bengal, production was up by 21.58 percent to 13.41 million kg during the month, from 11.03 million kg in April 2013.

The combined production of tea in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka decreased by 18.41 percent to 16.53 million kg from 20.26 million kg in the year-ago period.

India's tea production in 2013-14 increased by 6.19 percent to 1,205.40 million kg from 1,135.07 million kg in 2012-13, according to Tea Board of India.

India is the world's second-largest producer and biggest consumer of tea.