Kolkata, Feb 3 (IANS): India's tea production in December 2017 stood at 70.06 million kg, up by 9.47 per cent from the 64 million kg produced in the year-ago month, according to Tea Board India data.

The increase of 6.06 million kg in the last month of 2017 was mainly due to the rise in production in north India, according to the production data.

In north India, Assam's production grew by 10.41 per cent to 27.99 million kg in December 2017 as compared to 25.35 million kg produced in the corresponding month of 2016, while West Bengal's production for the month was at 24.53 million kg, up by 14.79 per cent from 21.37 million kg produced in the same month of 2016.

Taking Assam, West Bengal and others together, the estimated crop in north India increased by 11.65 per cent to 53.84 million kg as against 48.22 million kg produced in December 2016.

In south India, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, the tea production increased by 2.79 per cent to 16.22 million kg in December 2017 as against 15.78 million kg produced in December 2016.

In India, small growers produced 36.63 million kg in December 2017, as against 31.18 million kg produced by them in the year-ago month.