Climate change is no storm in a tea cup

The Times of India , Monday, April 22, 2013
Correspondent : Saswati Mukherjee B
BANGALORE: Sipping endlessly from that hot mug of tea or coffee might soon be a thing of the past with climate change, the theme of this World Earth Day, casting its shadow on the yield of the two commercial crops in the state.

Tea, the rain-fed crop intensively cultivated alongside the Western Ghats of southern India, is grown on over 0.12 million hectares in the region, accounting for one-fifth of the total tea plantations in the country. The tea gardens in Koppa, Chikmagalur, in Karnataka, contribute to 5% of South India's crop production.

Going by a recent report drawn up by P Mohan Kumar and R Raj Kumar of the UPASI Tea Research Foundation, Tea Research Institute, in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, the latest trends in world tea crop suggest that all tea-growing regions across the world are experiencing adverse climatic and weather conditions, resulting in lower production. Right from 2003, South Indian tea production oscillated between 220 and 230.8 million kg, and in 2008, it achieved a record crop of 246.9 m kg. Thereafter, there has been a steady decline.

"Tea is dependent on the distribution of rainfall and its pattern. The impact of global warming is immense and there is a steady decline in productivity, where agricultural practices depend on rain-fed conditions," says Mohan Kumar. To make matters worse, all tea districts experienced a deficit in rainfall.

Compared to the decennial average, the deficit in rainfall varied from 8.16% (Koppa, Karnataka) to as high as 37.2% in Vandiperiyar, Kerala. The Annamalais registered 27.8% deficit compared to the decennial mean, while Coonoor and Gudalur recorded a 26% deficit in rainfall.

On an average, 108 million kg tea is contributed by South Indian tea gardens, as per records. The Annamalais contribute the lion's share of 26.3%, followed by the High Range (24.8%). The Nilgiris and Central Travancore contribute with about 12% and 13%, respectively. The Nilgiri-Wayanad and Wayanad regions account another 9.5% and 9.1% respectively.

Tea production is mostly helped by land cover, but climatic factors have been playing spoilsport for a while. Secondary variables such as pests and diseases and management policies too play deterrents.

Coffee a bit better off

In India, both Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties are grown on 4 lakh hectares. An average temperature rise of 0.2o C per decade is projected, due to global warming. This high temperature hastens coffee ripening and deteriorates its quality.

"Although there is a slight warming in the coffee region, it has not affected coffee production so far as the crop is largely grown under the shade of trees. In fact, production is stable and has not been badly hit. The incidence of pest like the white stem borer is slightly on the increase, but still under reasonable control," said Jayarama, director of research, Central Coffee Research Institute.

"In the long run, however, proper care has to be taken or coffee production can take a beating in the southern states," Jayarama added.

Elsewhere in the world, climate change is likely to drastically affect the production of coffee.

Warming effect on coffee

* Reduces flowering

* 1oC increase in temperature increases population of coffee berry borer by 8.8%

* Increases infestation of nematodes

* Increases borer infestation

* Disease like Leaf Rust becomes more prevalent

* Higher degree of plant wilting

* Robusta pollination affected due to reduced bee population

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Climate-change-is-no-storm-in-a-tea-cup/articleshow/19671057.cms
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us