Tea sector strategy for climate change

A comprehensive report on the impact of climate change, vulnerability and adaptation strategies for the tea sector in Sri Lanka was released at the FAO-IGG (Food and Agriculture Organisation Inter-Governmental Group) on Tea Conference at Naivasha, Kenya recently.

The report was written jointly by the scientists of the working group on climate change representing India, Sri Lanka, Kenya and China as a report of the FAO-IGG on tea.

Dr. M.A.Wijeratne, Senior Research Officer and Officer in Charge of the Tea Research Institute, Low Country Regional Centre, contributed to the chapter from Sri Lanka and the other authors were Dr. R.M. Bhagat of India, Dr. John K Bore, Kenya and Dr. Wenyan Han, China.

The first copy of the report was presented to the Secretary, Intergovernmental Group on Tea, Kaison Chang.

The report highlights the present status of the tea industry, tea growing regions and their climatic conditions, climate trends, impact of climate change and vulnerable regions and most appropriate adaptation strategies to minimize adverse impact.

Some implications and barriers for adopting to climate change and policy interventions needed have also been listed in the report. The report reveals that warmer regions with poor soil conditions are highly vulnerable to climate change impact.

Tea lands at high elevations are projected to benefit by rising ambient CO2 levels and temperatures.

As a result tea cultivations in many countries are projected to be shifted to higher altitudes. When tea growing regions of Sri Lanka are considered, the low country region where the largest number of smallholdings are scattered are projected to be highly vulnerable to the adverse impact of climate change.

Of the proposed adaptation strategies, selecting the most suitable agro-ecological regions with good soil conditions for tea cultivation (replanting and expansion), crop diversification to reduce risk of mono-cropping, use of a basket of cultivars incorporating drought, pest and disease tolerant tea cultivars, in addition to those of high yield potential, soil and soil moisture conservation and improvement, proper planting and management of shade trees, rainwater harvesting and irrigation, judicious use of chemical fertilizers and afforestation are given high priority.

The report emphasizes the need for policy interventions in the areas of strengthening R&D institutes and their extension arms to conduct further assessments on climate change impact, develop technologies applicable to different regions and farm sizes and conduct awareness programmes, providing guidance and financial assistance for climate change adaptation and mitigation (reduce Green House Gas emissions and increase Carbon sequestration) strategies, nature conservation and eco-tourism, establishment of national and international networks on climate change to share knowledge and technologies, investments on field infrastructure development such as drainage system, irrigation system, road network and ecosystem diversity to improve level of adaptability of tea growers to climate change and introducing crop insurance schemes to minimize the impact on tea growers and other stakeholders.