Climate-resilient steps for tea-growing states

Our Correspondent

Palampur December 10

Climate change is an important environmental issue and impacts the tea production. Studies by different research institutes like the Tocklai Tea Research Institute point at the increasing threat to tea production and quality in many states, including Himachal Pradesh. It threatens the livelihood of the tea estate workers.

Recognising these challenges, the Tea Board Zonal Office, Palampur, supported by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Strategic Partnership for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (SPIPA) of European Union (EU) and German Development Agency (GIZ), is developing a sectoral proposal under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC).

The NAFCC, under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), aims to support climate-resilient initiatives through the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) which acts as the implementing agency. The proposed project will involve the implementation of climate adaptation measures across five tea growing states (Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh), where rising temperature, irregular rainfall and extreme weather condition pose a major risk for the long-term viability of tea.

The Tea Board, India, will hold a consultation workshop with all stakeholders at CSIR IHBT. The consultations will be held for an urgent action and identify the suitable adaptation strategies to be proposed under the NAFCC project.

\