The country is expected to cross the 1,000-million-kg mark in tea production during the existing fiscal and exports of the commodity are likely to go up by 5-10%.

Tea Board of India Chairman Basudeb Banerjee made the announcement on Monday.

Mr. Banerjee said, "For this financial year, we expect the production to be 1,000 million kg or it can be even more than that."

The country is the world's biggest tea grower.

India produced 960 million kilogram of tea during the last fiscal and the exports increased to 200 million kg in the period from 190 million kilogram in 2008-09.

"We expect a 5-10 percent growth in exports this year too. We hope to export 210-215 million kg of tea in 2010-11," he said.

On the viewpoint on tea costs, he said that the rates of tea will remain steady.

He added that the tea business in India is in "a better position at present" as compared to 2009 and is directing at "long-term sustainability".

"Last year, the government supported the tea growers under the Vishesh Krishi Programme which we really appreciate. Right now, the tea industry is in a better position. We don't need any further help from the government," he said when asked whether the industry wants extension of sops provided by the government. (With Inputs from Agencies)