The provisional data released by the United Planters’ Association of Southern India (Upasi) has estimated that the three tea growing states in south India have all clocked positive growth for the January-June six month period. South Indian tea output for the first half of the calendar year ’00 increased 10 per cent and stood at 102.9m kgs, against 93.6m kgs recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year, as reported.

The major tea growing state Tamil Nadu has registered a higher output of 63.6m kgs for the first half of the current calendar year, up 6% from the 60m kgs produced in the corresponding period of calendar ’99. Kerala, the second largest tea growing state in the south, has recorded a positive growth of 18 per cent. Kerala’s tea production increased to 36.5m kgs from 30.9m kgs. While that of Karnataka’s tea production marginally improved to 2.7m kgs from 2.6m kgs, an increase of 3%.

Production data Analysis indicates that major tea growing regions in south India -–Nilgiris, Anamallais, central Travancore and Kannan Devan – have all recorded positive growth in output in varying degrees.

The Kannan Devan region in Kerala has clocked the highest growth rate of 31%. The Nilgiri-Wynaad region is the sole exception with a negative growth of 12%. Upasi production estimates have pegged the southern tea output for June ’00 lower at 15m kgs, as against 17.6m kgs recorded during June ’99, a decline of 15%, as sources reported.

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