Through the rainfall was lesser than in the previous year, its distribution during the prime tea production season was better, contributing to 10 to 12 per cent increase in out, tea officials told The Daily Star.

The total production stood at about 57 million kgs against the target of 56 million kgs.

It was 52.79 million kgs in 2002 and 56.7 million kgs in 2001 against the targets of 56 million kgs, the officials added.

However the export decreased slightly, mainly due to rise in domestic consumption.

The production target for the current year is 57.5 million kgs.

Director of Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) AFM Badrul Alam said the rainfall was about 2000 mm from January to August last year against 2400 mm during the corresponding period in the previous year. But the average distribution was good, which is very important for growth of tea plants.

Though the rainfall was higher in the previous year, budding of tea leaves was obstructed during the prime period due to unvafourable weather caused by uneven distribution, accompanied by inadequate sunshine and inappropriate temperature.

Unavoidable behaviour of the weather decreased the production by about 3.2 million kgs against the target in 2002, he said.

A number of tea scientists said the 'second flash period', which is from May to August is very important for tea industry. It plays a vital role in the whole of year's production.

On the other hand, the scene was totally different last year. Behaviour of the weather is good yet, they said .

In recent years, the highest production was in 1998 and the worst was in 1999 while it was good in 2000.

With 160 tea estates, tea is the country's largest foreign exchange earning agro-based industry.

Roughly two thirds of this is consumed at home, while the rest is exported, earning around Tk 1500 million a year. The tea sector contributes 0.81 per cent of the GDP and about 0.15 million people are employed in this industry, which is about 3.3 percent of the country's total industrial employment.