India's tea production rises by 3.7% in Nov

Surge in production in key growing states Assam and Bengal pushed India's tea production in November by 3.75 per cent to 93.9 million kg, as compared to the corresponding month a year ago.

The production of tea in the country stood at 90.5 million kg in November 2009, state-owned Tea Board of India said in a statement.

Tea output in Assam, which is a leading producer, rose by nearly 3 million kg during November to 41.2 million kg, as against 38.4 million kg in the same month last year.

West Bengal also reported an increase of 3.6 million kg in tea production at 26.4 million kg in the month under consideration, due to surge in output in the Terai region.

Meanwhile, South-Indian states reported a decline in tea production.

The total production of tea in Northern India in November rose by 6.7 million kg to 70.8 million kg whereas in Southern India, it declined by 3.2 million kg to 23.1 million kg in the same month.

The total production of tea in India, the world's biggest grower after China, dropped 1.4 per cent to 907.7 million kg in the 11 months period ended on November 30 from 920.8 million kg in the similar period a year ago.