ITA cos suffer massive crop loss

Tea companies under the aegis of the Indian Tea Association (ITA) have lost around four million kg of crop in North Bengal and Assam last month, according to statistics trickling in.

The ITA today met heads of tea companies to discuss the situation, which had now assumed alarming proportions. “Upto August tea companies in North Bengal and Assam have lost more than 20 million kg,” an ITA official said.

Moreover, if companies under ITA were pegged to lose 3-4 million kg, it would translate to 7-8 million for the whole of region since ITA members account for 50 per cent of the production in the North and East of India.

“The supply situation is very tight,” the ITA official explained as exports during January-July had increased 14 million kg. The huge crop loss was primarily induced by heavy rains followed by pest attack. The total shortfall in the system would be around 34 million kg, factoring in the exports.