Issues:
- Climate change impact
- The physiology of tea plants is closely linked to external environmental and climatic factors (elevation, precipitation, temperature, soil moisture, fertility, light duration and intensity, humidity, shelter, shade and CO2 concentration
- Rainfall has traditionally been plenty but with recent changes in climate, surface and ground water are becoming important irrigation systems.
- Climate risks like floods in Assam, soil water logging, winter precipitation deficits with seasonal draughts
- Fluctuations in temperatures
It is no longer climate change — it is climate chaos
Result:
- Tea quality is suffering
- Pest-attacks are increasing
Efforts are being to make tea estates climate-smart