Nilgiris tea production crisis

Tea growers in the Nilgiris region of Tamil Nadu are facing a severe production crisis driven by a significant deficit in southwest monsoon rainfall. Initially, producers reported that monthly yields per acre dropped from a typical 500 kg to approximately 200 kg, with current production seeing a 10 to 20 per cent decrease. While some farmers attempted to use sprinklers, the high costs proved prohibitive for many small-scale producers.

The situation has escalated into what is described as a historic crisis attributed to El Niño-induced drought and heatwave conditions. The failure of the monsoon has caused tea shoots to wither, leading to a drastic reduction in raw materials for factories; daily deliveries in some areas have plummeted from 4,000 kg to just 600 kg. This shortage has resulted in an estimated 20 per cent loss in revenue for many facilities and threatens the livelihoods of over 65,000 farmers and workers.

Research from the UPASI Tea Research Institute indicates a long-term downward trend in rainfall, noting a 31 per cent drop over the last five years. Projections suggest that annual rainfall could decrease significantly by 2025, with tea productivity expected to continue its decline.