TEA output from south India during July 2000 stood lower at 12.79 million kg against 14.88 million kg registered the previous corresponding period, a decline of 14 per cent. The declining trend in tea output was witnessed in all the three growing states of south India.

Tamil Nadu’s production was lower at 7.66 million kg during July 2000 against an output of 9.05 million kg clocked in July 1999, a negative growth of 15 per cent. The major tea growing regions in Tamil Nadu — Anamallai, Nilgiris and Nilgiri-Wynaad have all registered negative growth during July 2000.

In the case of Kerala, tea production stood at 4.80 million kg against 5.38 million kg clocked during July 1999, a negative growth of 11 per cent. The output from central Travancore and Kannan Devan region, the two major tea growing regions of Kerala, declined, while other regions (Mundakayam, south Kerala, Nelliampathies and Wynaad) managed to maintain or improve its production during July 2000.

The Karnataka tea crop was lower at 351 tonnes against 454 tonnes recorded during July 1999, a sharp decline of 23 per cent. The three tea growing regions, Chikmagalur, Coorg and Hassan, clocked negative growth in tea production.

For the seven month period of January-July 2000, southern tea production stood at 115.65 million kg against 108.44 million kg for the previous period.