Climate warning, not seasonal setback

Erratic monsoon, prolonged dry spells, and soaring temperatures leaving tea estates in Assam gasping for moisture do not bode well for the future of the state's tea industry. This has become a recurring phenomenon in recent years, and this year was no different, with the industry worried over the drastic fall in June and July. For the industry and the government, this is a deeper signal of a climate warning, which must not be ignored as a seasonal setback. Friday's edition of this newspaper highlighted that there has been an alarming 12 percent drop in tea production in June compared to the June 2024 yield, which the industry attributes to a drought-like situation in some tea-growing areas with a 50 percent deficit in rainfall. The industry estimates that due to a 30-40 percent deficit in rainfall during July, there was a definite fall in production last month as well. Being the largest employer of the state with more than one million workers, the tea industry risks sliding into a deeper crisis unless robust policies are formulated to overcome the climate-induced challenges. As a key contributor to India's export basket, the Assam tea industry deserves special attention from the central government in addressing the pressing challenges posed by erratic monsoons and prolonged dry spells. Unfortunately, no sense of urgency could be observed. Recurring and climate-induced extreme weather upsetting soil moisture balance and hindering plant growth, if not addressed through irrigation and pest control measures, will seriously affect the quality of Assam tea, famous for its distinctive flavour. Inclusion of tea in the Restructured Weather-based Crop Insurance Scheme will cushion the industry against economic losses due to a fall in production, but sustainable measures demand climate adaptation through the plantation of more drought-resilient tea varieties. The central government allocating more funds to the Tea Research Association (TRA) Laboratory at Tocklai to overcome its financial constraints and support extensive research activities is an urgent need of the hour. The critical importance of research in making the tea industry climate resilient is so obvious that it does not need to be stressed. To remind the funding support to TRA, both by the industry and the government, it must go beyond tokensim. Roping in universities in the state to integrate tea research in climate studies and fund collaborative research projects with the industry can significantly supplement efforts by TRA. Climate shocks affect small tea growers even more severely than large estates, as they are vulnerable to the price volatility of green leaf. With small tea growers accounting for nearly 50 percent of total tea production in the state, providing an economic cushion in addition to special measures to help them absorb climate-induced production losses is crucial for the overall growth of the tea industry in the state. Ironically, the issue of small tea growers not getting remunerative prices for green leaves has long remained unaddressed, resulting in perpetual tension between small growers and bought-leaf factories. Irrigation facilities for the tea industry are as important as those for other agricultural crops, and the growing unpredictability of rain makes it imperative to prioritise irrigation in tea gardens. A decline in tea production on account of adverse and extreme weather is not merely a profit-loss statement or production target-it is also about safeguarding the livelihoods of over a million workers. The Assam government is aware of this and has initiated a host of welfare measures for tea garden workers, including the establishment of schools, hospitals, housing schemes, etc. While these measures have played a crucial role for growth and the tea industry, if the climate-induced problems remain unaddressed, the industry will find it difficult to sustain the growth momentum. Incentivising solar irrigation pump installations and water storage ponds for meeting irrigation shortfalls during dry spells are some of the measures that can be included in the list of priorities for addressing climate-induced challenges in tea gardens. The policy must focus on the overall irrigation needs of the entire industry rather than taking up scattered projects, making it essential to draw a clear roadmap. Apart from drought-resistant varieties, tea research focusing on developing scientific measures for moisture retention is of paramount importance to reduce heat stress for tea bushes. A comprehensive and integrated climate action policy formulation to address the problem of deficit rain and heat stress of tea plants needs wide-ranging consultation among all stakeholders. The onus lies on the industry to initiate the consultation and commission studies to come up with specific recommendations, which can subsequently be taken up for discussion with the central and state governments for finalisation. Setting up a joint task force of industry, government departments and agencies, universities, tea research associations, and climate experts and mandating it to come up with recommendations in a time-bound manner can be a pragmatic option. Seasonal setbacks in tea production due to deficient rain or extreme weather must not be allowed to overshadow a larger climate crisis looming over the Assam tea industry.