Frost bite hits tea plantations in Munnar, Nilgiris, TN

Frost hit various tea estates in Munnar

Dropping temperatures have begun to affect tea plantations in Munnar, Kerala, and the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, significantly impacting production over the past few days.

The crop loss due to declining temperature in Munnar region alone was estimated to be around 100 hectares, which is likely to affect three months of production, sources in a tea production firm in the region said.

UPASI Tea Research Foundation data show that the temperature touched zero degrees in Chenduvarai, Silent Valley, Letchmi, Devikulam and at the UPASI headquarters in Nallathanni, Devikulam, recorded 1 degree.

Anil George, Vice President (Tea Operations), Harrisons Malayalam Ltd-SBU A, said severe frost was reported at Lockhart Estate and other tea estates in Munnar following a sharp drop in temperature. Lockhart Estate, located at a high altitude of 6,000 feet above sea level, experiencing sub-zero temperatures.

Frost hit various tea estates in Munnar

2 phenomenons

The extreme cold is causing significant stress to tea bushes and defoliation of leaves. At Lockhart Estate alone, around 49.04 hectares (about 14.3 per cent of the estate area) were affected. Crop loss is expected, and recovery will depend on improved weather conditions, including warmer temperatures, higher humidity, and rainfall, he said.

He cited two phenomenons – Siberian high and Katabatic flow – appears to be reasons for very low temperature in high elevation tea growing areas in South India. Siberian high brings low temperature wind till Himalaya annually and it prevents movement towards South India. But this year it moved towards the South due to climate change. As it reaches towards Nilgiris and Munnar, during night the air becomes denser and flows towards valleys in tea growing areas due to Katabatic flow resulting in extensive frost damage in tea fields nearby.

This, he said, is yet another impact of climate change in tea growing areas in South India.

Small growers face threat

Nilgiris is also no exception, as frost conditions are being experienced in Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Kotagiri, and other internal areas. Dhananjayan Krishnamurthy, president of Nilgiris Bought Tea Leaf Manufacturers Association, told businessline that the majority of the tea gardens are owned by small growers and dropping temperatures are affecting their earnings. It is too early to evaluate the production loss, and the impact of frost on production could be estimated only after a fortnight, he added.

Industry sources pointed out that Kerala tea production is estimated to be around 64 million kg and 25 per cent of the contribution of the brew is from Munnar region.

Published on December 23, 2025