Nilgiris tea production faces historic crisis due to El Niño drought

The Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu is facing a historic tea crisis as severe drought and heatwave conditions, attributed to El Niño, have caused a sharp decline in green tea leaf supply. The failure of the Southwest Monsoon has led to withered tea shoots during the critical spring season, significantly impacting production in areas such as Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri, and Manjoor.

Tea factories report a drastic reduction in raw materials, with daily deliveries plummeting from approximately 4,000 kg to just 600 kg. This shortage has resulted in an estimated 20 per cent loss in revenue for many facilities. The crisis threatens the livelihoods of over 65,000 small and marginal farmers and workers who depend on the tea industry, which serves as a backbone of the local economy.

A report from the UPASI Tea Research Institute highlights a significant downward trend in rainfall, noting a 31 per cent drop over the last five years. Projections suggest annual rainfall could decrease from 173.3 cm in 2021 to 119.4 cm by 2025, with tea productivity expected to fall from 2,315 kg per hectare in 2023 to 2,042 kg per hectare in 2025.