GUWAHATI, Feb 15 � Though till recently it was believed that the share of Assam to the country�s total tea production was 51 per cent, the recent data released by the Tea Board of India has revealed that Assam�s share in this respect is in fact 53 per cent.
In 2012, India produced 1,111.76 million kgs of tea and in this, Assam�s share was 588.27 million kgs.
The production of tea in India crossed the one billion kg mark in 2011 itself. As per the latest Tea Board data, the country produced 1,115.72 million kgs in 2011, which is the highest ever production by India. In the same year, Assam�s production also reached highest ever with a production of 589.11 million kgs.
The Tea Board data said India�s production in 2012 is down by about 4 million kgs and Assam�s production is down by about 0.84 million kgs compared to last year.
In 2012, the Brahmaputra valley produced 535.42 million kgs and Barak valley produced 52.85 million kgs.
As per the latest Tea Board data, North India (Assam, West Bengal, other NE States and other States in North India) produces 79% of country�s total tea and South India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka) produces 21% of country�s total tea.
The average price of CTC tea in 2012 at the Guwahati tea Auction Centre was up by Rs 22 a kg over 2011, said tea industry sources.