KRASNODAR, February 19. /TASS/. The tea leaf harvest in the Krasnodar Region, the only area where tea plants are cultivated on a commercial scale, fell by 18.3 metric tons to 372.8 metric tons by the end of 2024, according to the regional ministry of agriculture and the processing industry.

"Green tea leaf plucking: <...> 2024 - 372.8 metric tons; in 2023 - 391.1 metric tons. Lands suitable for tea cultivation in the Sochi area cover 1,203 hectares, with 406 hectares, or 33.9%, currently in use. Unused potentially suitable lands total 797 hectares, of which 375 hectares are being reclaimed for conversion into plucking areas," the ministry reported.

Reclamation will not take place and recovery will not be feasible on 422 hectares, the ministry added. However, new tea plantations may be developed in the future with promising tea varieties and the construction of drip irrigation systems.

Tea is grown in the region primarily for the domestic market.