India: 25 per cent fall in tea output (231).

COIMBATORE: The all-India tea production in the first three months of 1999, has registered a 25 per cent decline, compared to the corresponding period last year.

The estimated national tea output during January-March 1999 stood at 61.31 million kg, compared to 81.47 mkg harvested in the first quarter of 1998, industry sources said.

While the estimated production in North India showed a 50 per cent decline, registering 18.45 mkg against 36.7 mkg in 1998, the South Indian output was estimated at 42.86 mkg in 1999, compared to 44.76 mkg last year, the sources said.

Of the 52.33-mkg of …