What is the Impact of Climate Change on India's Tea Yields

Climate change is posing a severe existential threat to the Indian tea industry, impacting both the quantity (yield) and quality of the crop.

• Erratic Rainfall: The most significant factor is the disruption of rainfall patterns. This includes:
  • Prolonged Droughts: Severe dry spells, especially early in the year, stunt the growth of the bushes and delay the critical "first flush" (first harvest).
  • Intense, Irregular Rain: When the rain does come, it often arrives in destructive, high-volume downpours, which causes soil erosion and waterlogging, damaging the plants' root systems.
• Rising Temperatures: Tea bushes thrive in a specific temperature band. Persistently high average temperatures, especially above 26°C, cause heat stress to the plants. Regions like Assam have reported summer temperatures reaching 40°C, which slows photosynthesis and reduces yields.
• Decline in Quality: The unique flavour profiles of Indian tea are a direct result of their climate. In Assam, for example, the specific combination of heat and humidity that creates the famous malty "second flush" has been disrupted. In recent years, planters have reported that this signature character is weak or entirely missing.
• Increased Pests and Diseases: The changing weather (warmer winters, fluctuating humidity) alters the life cycles of pests. There has been a significant increase in infestations from the tea mosquito bug, looper caterpillar, and red spider mite, which damage leaves and increase costs for pest control.
• Production Data: These impacts are measurable. India's overall tea production has seen declines in recent years, directly attributed to these climatic events. For example, Assam's output fell from 688.33 million kg in 2023 to 649.84 million kg in 2024, with the industry citing heatwaves and rainfall deficits as the primary cause.