Climate ChangeClimate change affects tea cultivation in many ways. Increase in average temperature, weather changes, reduced exposure to sunlight, and increased extreme weather events disrupt tea production, both in quality and quantity. The weather also affects the volume of water available for tea plants. Tea may experience either excess or shortage of water due to extreme weather. These conditions thus increase stress on the plant. An unfavorable climate also increases the susceptibility of tea plants to pests and diseases.
On the other hand, cultivation practices in the tea sector also contribute to agriculture’s carbon footprint. A number of agricultural activities have an impact on high greenhouse gas emissions, including monocultures, burning practices, improper use of nitrogen fertilizers, and so on. Not only comes from on-farm activities, greenhouse gas emissions also arise from supporting activities, such as livestock farming, manure processing, and so on.
Therefore, we encourage tea farmers to implement climate change adaptation and mitigation in their tea cultivation practices and their daily lives, among others:
- Planting shade trees which are beneficial for the tea farm area and for farmer’s life
- Selecting suitable tea clones or varieties
- Avoiding burning practices, either in the farm area or around their house
- Selecting and applying fertilizers correctly