Kolkata, Apr 1 (IANS): India's estimated tea production in February 2018 stood at 13.20 million kg, down by 2.8 per cent from 13.59 million kgs produced in the same month last year, according to Tea Board India data.

According to estimated production data, the marginal fall in absolute term during February was mainly due to drop in the crop production in north India - which is actually east and northeast India.

In north India, Assam's production for the month was stagnant at 0.46 million kg as compared to 0.37 million kg produced in the corresponding month of 2017 while West Bengal's production for the month stood at 1.24 million kg, down by 23 per cent from 1.62 million kg produced in the same month of 2017.

Taking Assam, West Bengal and others together, the estimated crop during the month under review in north India decreased by nearly 15 per cent to 1.73 million kg as against 2.03 million kg produced in February 2017.

In south India, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, the tea production was at 11.47 million kg in February 2018 as against 11.56 million kg produced in same month last year.

In India, small growers produced 5.89 million kg in February as against 6.42 million kg produced in the same month last year.