‘Bengal tea industry sees 15% decline in production in 2024’

MP, 15 Jan 2025, Alipurduar: The tea industry in Bengal witnessed a significant setback in 2024, with a production drop of 6.4 crore kilograms compared to the previous year. 

According to data from the Tea Board of India, the total tea production in North Bengal from January to December 2023 stood at 43.35 crore kilograms, while during the same period in 2024, it declined to 36.91 crore kilograms — a decrease of nearly 15 per cent. 

The financial loss due to this reduced production is estimated at more than Rs 1,500 crore. 

The decline is primarily attributed to erratic weather patterns, which have severely impacted the yield across more than 300 tea gardens, stretching from Darjeeling to Alipurduar. 

Stakeholders in the industry have expressed concerns over the Central government’s “lack of response” to the crisis. The situation has caused widespread anxiety within the tea industry of North Bengal, prompting urgent discussions about the challenges that may lie ahead in 2025. The tea industry remains the largest employment generator in Bengal — directly engaging over 5 lakh workers. 

However, tea garden owners are grappling with mounting losses, both in terms of reduced production and declining prices. Speaking on the crisis, Chinmay Dhar, North Bengal Chairman of the Tea Association of India, remarked: “We are facing unprecedented losses. All relevant information has been communicated to the Central government, but the Tea Board remains a passive observer. 

This is the worst setback we’ve faced in recent memory and its repercussions could worsen in 2025. Many tea gardens that are already struggling could become unsustainable. The coming months, especially January to March, will be critical. 

We don’t know what the future holds.” Amidst the challenges, a section of tea garden owners has called for decisive intervention by the Central government. 

Recommendations include setting a minimum floor price for tea, introducing a financial relief package for North Bengal’s tea industry and curbing the illegal entry of Nepalese tea, which exacerbates market instability. 

Courtesy & source: Millennium Post

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/record-11-cr-pilgrims-take-holy-dip-at-gangasagar-on-makar-sankranti-594987