Kolkata, Aug 1 (IANS): The estimated tea production in India for June has decreased by 2.81 per cent to 143.02 million kg as compared to 147.15 million kg in the corresponding month last year, according to data provided by Tea Board India.

Darjeeling tea production was the worst hit in June due to ongoing indefinite strike as crop production fell by 89.47 per cent to 0.14 million kg as compared to 1.33 million kg in the year-ago month, the Board's data said.

Out of the total production in June, North India, which comprises Assam Valley, Cachar in Assam, Dooars, Terai and Darjeeling in West Bengal, contributed 116.40 million kgs while South India produced 26.62 million kgs.

North India's production for the month (June) was down by 4.70 per cent from 122.14 million kgs in the year-ago month.

South India's production from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka was, however, up by 6.44 per cent from 25.01 million kg in June last year.

In June 2017, small growers contributed 68.17 million kg to the estimated production while big growers' contribution stood at 74.85 million kg.

Small growers had produced 66.70 million kg in June 2016 while 80.45 million kg were produced by big growers in the same month this year.

In the April-June quarter of the current financial year, all India estimated tea production stood at 354.24 million kg, of which North India's contribution was at 276.06 kg and South India's at 78.18 million kg.

In the first three months of the current fiscal 2017-18, the estimated Darjeeling tea production was 1.93 million kg.