Assam tea hit by climate change

According to the Tea Association of India (TAI), the total tea production in India this year (2010-11) will be around 949 million kg, down by 30 million kg from the previous year’s figure of around 979 million kg.

According to the TAI report, the major reason for this drop in national production is the decline in production in the Assam valley. “In the Assam valley alone, the reduction in tea production has been to the tune of around 15 million kilograms,” says the TAI report.

The maximum loss has been in the tea gardens at Barak valley, where the production drop in case of some gardens has been over 30 per cent. According to the TAI president, DP Maheshwari, though there has been marginal rise in production in the tea gardens at Terai and Dooars region, the rise is not enough to make up for the huge drop in the gardens of Assam valley.

According to TAI officials, the declining production in Assam tea gardens is nothing new, and has been happening steadily for the last six years. This year, however, the drop has been steep. The main reason for this, according to TAI findings, is the gradual decline in what used to be abundant rainfall and a steady rise in minimum temperatures. Most alarmingly, rainfall in the Assam valley at present is around one-fifth of what it was a few decades back.

Assam-based planter, Avik Baruah, feels that rainwater harvesting should have been introduced to counter the existing problem. “On one hand, there has been a steady decline in rainfall in the Assam valley for the last few decades. On top of that, more areas are being brought under tea plantation.

Although the first indication of production drop because of insufficient rainfall was felt few years back, no one took it seriously. And now the matter is slowly taking an alarming turn. Unless steps like rainwater harvesting are taken on an emergency footing, things will get worse,” he said.

What’s really scary is that this change in climate seems to be affecting the tea’s flavour. Assam tea is acclaimed worldwide for its distinctive taste, and if this is affected, it could spell doom for exports in the long run. According to TAI estimates, the average price realisation from exports have been quite discouraging in recent years due to major improvement in production by Sri Lanka and Kenya, India’s two major rivals in the export market. “Now, in addition, if there is a major decline in the quality of Assam tea, flavour, our exports will take a further hit,” he said.

Considering that total Indian tea production has been traditionally dependent on the rate of production in the Assam valley, any fall in the tea production in Assam valley will have a major and adverse effect on the total tea production in the country.

Now, with rising minimum temperatures and aberrant rainfall patterns, both of which have been linked to climate change induced by global warming, it remains to be seen how the tea planters of Assam address these challenges.