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Irregular rainfall cuts 2025 tea output in major hubs
Irregular rainfall affected tea production in major tea-growing regions of Sylhet and Chattogram in 2025, although the country’s overall output slightly increased compared with the previous year.
www.newagebd.net
Irregular rainfall cuts 2025 tea output in major hubs
Sadiqur Rahman 14 March, 2026, 01:48
Irregular rainfall affected tea production in major tea-growing regions of Sylhet and Chattogram in 2025, although the country’s overall output slightly increased compared with the previous year.
According to Bangladesh Tea Board data, the country produced 9,49,26,647 kilograms of tea in 2025, up from 9,30,42,001 kilograms in 2024.
However, production declined in key tea-producing districts, Moulvibazar, Sylhet and Chattogram, mainly due to irregular rainfall patterns in 2025.
Moulvibazar, the largest tea-producing district, produced 4,48,45,009 kilograms of tea in 2025, down from 4,63,33,372 kilograms in 2024.
Tea production in Chattogram fell to 1,04,30,631 kilograms in 2025 from 1,12,80,572 kilograms a year earlier.
Sylhet district produced 42,45,685 kilograms in 2025, down from 45,33,326 kilograms in 2024.
Experts told New Age on Friday that irregular rainfall in major tea-growing areas had affected leaf growth and reduced the plucking period.
There are 171 tea gardens in Bangladesh. Of them, 90 are located in Moulvibazar, 25 in Habiganj, 22 in Chattogram, 19 in Sylhet, 10 in Panchagarh, two in Rangamati and one in Thakurgaon.
Bangladesh Tea Board deputy director Suman Sikder said the 2025 tea season began with drought in several tea valleys, followed by irregular rainfall.
‘Perhaps it rained in one valley, but drought persisted in neighbouring valleys, such was the situation last year,’ he said.
Data from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department show that Chattogram received 99 per cent less than the normal rainfall of 23 millimetres in February 2025.
Sylhet received 90 per cent less than the normal rainfall of 34 millimetres in that month.
In May, however, the two regions experienced excessive rainfall, 49.9 per cent above normal rainfall of 338 millimetres in Chattogram and 127.3 per cent above normal rainfall of 528 millimetres in Sylhet.
In July 2025, Chattogram recorded 22.3 per cent more rainfall than the normal rainfall of 692 millimetres, while Sylhet received 7.9 per cent less than the normal rainfall of 536 millimetres.
In October, rainfall in Chattogram was 39.4 per cent less than the normal rainfall of 216 millimetres, while Sylhet recorded 13.5 per cent less than the normal rainfall of 182 millimetres.
Professor Iftekhar Ahmad of the Department of Food Engineering and Tea Technology at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology said that drought, irregular rainfall and rising temperatures negatively affected tea production in the Sylhet and Chattogram regions.
‘Due to insufficient and untimely rainfall, tea leaf growth declined in many gardens, disrupting the plucking season,’ he said.
He said that changes in the timing of the monsoon shortened the plucking period in the Sylhet region, reducing overall output.
In the Chattogram region, irregular rainfall, both in timing and volume, reduced leaf flush, which ultimately lowered tea production, he added.
Iftekhar also identified climate change, regional weather variation, water scarcity and irrigation problems as key factors behind the decline.
Bangladesh Tea Association chairman Kamran T Rahman said that tea gardens in the Sylhet and Chattogram regions needed additional irrigation facilities with groundwater, as irregular rainfall was not sufficient for irrigation.
‘Alternative groundwater-based irrigation systems should be developed to tackle drought-like conditions and we need government support for this,’ he said, urging government support.
Sadiqur Rahman 14 March, 2026, 01:48
Irregular rainfall affected tea production in major tea-growing regions of Sylhet and Chattogram in 2025, although the country’s overall output slightly increased compared with the previous year.
According to Bangladesh Tea Board data, the country produced 9,49,26,647 kilograms of tea in 2025, up from 9,30,42,001 kilograms in 2024.
However, production declined in key tea-producing districts, Moulvibazar, Sylhet and Chattogram, mainly due to irregular rainfall patterns in 2025.
Moulvibazar, the largest tea-producing district, produced 4,48,45,009 kilograms of tea in 2025, down from 4,63,33,372 kilograms in 2024.
Tea production in Chattogram fell to 1,04,30,631 kilograms in 2025 from 1,12,80,572 kilograms a year earlier.
Sylhet district produced 42,45,685 kilograms in 2025, down from 45,33,326 kilograms in 2024.
Experts told New Age on Friday that irregular rainfall in major tea-growing areas had affected leaf growth and reduced the plucking period.
There are 171 tea gardens in Bangladesh. Of them, 90 are located in Moulvibazar, 25 in Habiganj, 22 in Chattogram, 19 in Sylhet, 10 in Panchagarh, two in Rangamati and one in Thakurgaon.
Bangladesh Tea Board deputy director Suman Sikder said the 2025 tea season began with drought in several tea valleys, followed by irregular rainfall.
‘Perhaps it rained in one valley, but drought persisted in neighbouring valleys, such was the situation last year,’ he said.
Data from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department show that Chattogram received 99 per cent less than the normal rainfall of 23 millimetres in February 2025.
Sylhet received 90 per cent less than the normal rainfall of 34 millimetres in that month.
In May, however, the two regions experienced excessive rainfall, 49.9 per cent above normal rainfall of 338 millimetres in Chattogram and 127.3 per cent above normal rainfall of 528 millimetres in Sylhet.
In July 2025, Chattogram recorded 22.3 per cent more rainfall than the normal rainfall of 692 millimetres, while Sylhet received 7.9 per cent less than the normal rainfall of 536 millimetres.
In October, rainfall in Chattogram was 39.4 per cent less than the normal rainfall of 216 millimetres, while Sylhet recorded 13.5 per cent less than the normal rainfall of 182 millimetres.
Professor Iftekhar Ahmad of the Department of Food Engineering and Tea Technology at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology said that drought, irregular rainfall and rising temperatures negatively affected tea production in the Sylhet and Chattogram regions.
‘Due to insufficient and untimely rainfall, tea leaf growth declined in many gardens, disrupting the plucking season,’ he said.
He said that changes in the timing of the monsoon shortened the plucking period in the Sylhet region, reducing overall output.
In the Chattogram region, irregular rainfall, both in timing and volume, reduced leaf flush, which ultimately lowered tea production, he added.
Iftekhar also identified climate change, regional weather variation, water scarcity and irrigation problems as key factors behind the decline.
Bangladesh Tea Association chairman Kamran T Rahman said that tea gardens in the Sylhet and Chattogram regions needed additional irrigation facilities with groundwater, as irregular rainfall was not sufficient for irrigation.
‘Alternative groundwater-based irrigation systems should be developed to tackle drought-like conditions and we need government support for this,’ he said, urging government support.
