Tea industry faces crop loss for second year in a row on poor rainfall

Industry says crop loss is irreversible as first flush is gone, second is partially impacted

Last year, the tea industry lost much of its premium tea to the Covid-19 lockdown. This year, poor rainfall in North India has hit hard.

The production between March and May is is expected to be lower than the 2019 output by 80-90 million kg, said Vivek Goenka, chairman, Indian Tea Association (ITA).

The crop loss is irreversible, said Atul Asthana, managing director and chief executive officer, Goodricke Group. “The first flush is gone and the second flush is partially impacted,” he added.

The first flush or the first crop is harvested early March through mid-April and the second flush