Southwest Monsoon Deficit Threatens Tea Harvest in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris

A deficient southwest monsoon has left the Nilgiri tea plantations battling a severe moisture shortage. The lack of rain has reduced the green leaf yield dramatically, with many farms reporting a drop from the usual 500 kilograms per acre per month to barely 200 kilograms. The situation is being described as the worst in the past fifteen years, coinciding with a strong El Niño event that has suppressed rainfall by about 55 percent. While occasional showers have provided temporary respite, the overall impact on the crop could be a 10‑20 percent reduction this season, with the potential for a 50 percent decline in the long term if conditions do not improve.