)
Tea production in the country declined 2.17% to 101.18 million kg in May due to a fall in output in Assam, according to government data.
Output in the same month last year stood at 103.42 million kg, the Tea Board said in an estimate.
In Assam, tea production fell 13.03% to 46.65 million kg in May from 53.64 million kg in the same month last year. Output in West Bengal increased 19.57% to 28.17 million kg in May from 23.56 million kg a year earlier.
Assam and West Bengal are the two major tea-producing states, with their combined output accounting for 74% of output in May.
In south India, tea output declined 1.59% in May to 24.18 million kg.
India is the world's second-largest producer and the biggest consumer of tea.
The country's tea production increased 3.62% to 1,135 million kg in 2012-13. Output stood at 1,126 million kg in 2012.
