Nilgiris tea growers face sharp yield decline due to rainfall deficit

Tea growers in the Nilgiris region of Tamil Nadu are experiencing a significant decline in green leaf production due to a substantial deficit in southwest monsoon rainfall. Farmers report that monthly yields per acre have dropped from a typical 500 kg to approximately 200 kg, a decline described by local producers as unprecedented in recent decades.

While some growers have attempted to use sprinklers to mitigate the dry spell, the high cost of equipment and operation is prohibitive for many small-scale producers. Agricultural experts note that while intermittent showers have provided temporary relief, a continued lack of rain could reduce annual average yields per acre—normally between 7 and 8 tonnes—by as much as 50 per cent. Current production has already seen a 10 to 20 per cent decrease.

Despite the drop in supply, procurement prices for tea leaves have remained below Rs 20 per kg. Experts indicate that local production shortages have not triggered higher prices because tea rates are largely dictated by global market conditions.