Tea planters across the nation are grappling with a substantial decline in tea yield, marking a 30% reduction attributed to relentless drought conditions. Lal Premanath, the National organizer of the National Federation of Small Tea Estates, underscored the severity of the situation, citing the profound impact on tea plantations.
Previously, an acre would yield between 200-300kg of tea leaves, but the current yield has dwindled to a mere 100-150kg per acre. The adversity imposed by the drought poses significant challenges to tea producers, signaling potential implications for the industry at large.