Tea Output in North Bengal Drops by Nearly 60% Compared to Last Year

MP, Alipurduar, 7 November 2025: Tea production in the plains of North Bengal has experienced a dramatic slump this year, prompting fresh calls for the introduction of a Minimum Support Price (MSP). Compared to last year, output in October has declined by nearly 50 to 60 per cent, raising serious concerns across the region’s tea belt. Industry sources point to a combination of erratic weather, poor infrastructure, flood damage, and falling market prices for the steep drop.

Preliminary data from the Dooars branch of the Indian Tea Planters’ Association (ITPA) indicates that of the 21 tea estates surveyed up to October, 18 reported reduced production, with many estates recording losses of 40 to 50 per cent.

The Subhashini Tea Estate in Alipurduar’s Kalchini block faced the most severe impact, with production down by around 58 per cent due to extensive flood damage in October. Other estates, including Srinathpur and Saili in Jalpaiguri, Birpara and Dimdima in Alipurduar, and Mainak Hill Tea Estate in Cooch Behar, also reported significant declines.

In response to the mounting distress in the sector, members of the ITPA have collectively demanded the introduction of an MSP for tea and submitted nine key proposals to the Chief Minister. These proposals include repairing river embankments, improving infrastructure, and increasing government support to help sustain the struggling sector.

“It is absolutely essential now to fix a Minimum Support Price for tea. The industry cannot survive unless the government intervenes,” said Ram Avatar Sharma, Secretary of the ITPA’s Dooars branch. “With production halted from December to February, managing operations has become extremely difficult.”

September and October are critical months for tea production, particularly the "Puja flush" period. However, many estates have failed to meet their production targets this year. Tea planters are concerned that if the shortfall in production continues along with falling prices, the industry could face a severe financial crisis in the coming season.

“There is a serious problem in the tea auction market. Prices have dropped sharply compared to last year,” said Rajkumar Mondal, Chairman of the Dooars Branch Indian Tea Association (DBITA). “Coupled with erratic weather, it’s impossible for estates to absorb such heavy losses.”