Endowed with a favourable weather, the prospect of tea production seems better this year than that of last year, according to tea experts and producers.

An official at the Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) said after the last year's good yield of 57.96 million kg, the target of the country's tea production has been fixed at 60 million kg this year. The production was 53.41 million kg in 2006.

In 2005 the country had the highest ever production at 60.14 million kg since the crop got most favourable weather almost whole the season.

Md Shahjahan, manager of state-run Somonbhag Tea Estate of Juri valley, said the tea producing regions this year have been getting better rains from the beginning of March.

Moreover, the gardens experienced favourable temperature and sunshine, which are very important factors for the sensitive crop, Shahjahan added.

"We started tea plucking on March 10 this year, whereas plucking began on March 15 last year," he said, adding that it is a good sign.

However, experts said fertilisation is a regular practice for tea gardeners and hence short and delayed supply of fertiliser may play a havoc with the crop.

Timely fertilisation is very important for tea production during March-April period. High prices of fertilisers may hit output, they hinted.

Normally tea needs 120 to 150 inches rainfall per year. Last year the average rainfall stood at around 100 inches at Jury valley and the other regions also experienced a little more.

Humayun Kabir, manager of the Habibnagar Tea Estate in Sylhet, said tea plucking started a little earlier this year since there had been a favourable weather. In Sylhet rainfall was good enough this year compared to that of last year, he said.

Despite fertiliser crisis and other problems, there was a good crop last year mainly due to favourable weather, he added. "This year we also expect so as there had already been a good start."

Numan Haider Chowdhury, general manager of Khadim Tea Estate in Sylhet, said tea is a very sensitive crop, which needs uniform rainfall and sunshine especially during the period from March to September-October.

In 2004, the country's tea production was 55.62 million kg, while in 2003 it was 58.29 million kg.

Bangladesh has 160 tea estates that produce 55 million kg to 60 million kg tea per year. Roughly two thirds of the produce are consumed locally, while the rest is exported.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh earned US $ 6.94 million from tea export in 2006-07 fiscal year.