Landslides and floods devastate Darjeeling tea estates in India - Heavy Floods Devastate Darjeeling Tea Plantations, Threatening India's Tea Industry
Heavy floods have devastated more than 950 hectares of tea plantations in Darjeeling, India's premier tea-growing region. The deluge, which dumped over 260 litres of rain per square metre, has caused dramatic losses to the prized tea crops just before the harvest of the fine young tea tips, known as the 'new flush'.
India, the world's second-largest tea producer and third-largest exporter, is grappling with the impact of climate change on its tea industry. Rising temperatures and frequent storms, like the one that hit Darjeeling, are affecting both yield and quality of tea production. The Indian tea industry employs over a million people directly and another million indirectly, making these extreme weather events a significant concern.
The Darjeeling region, renowned for its high-quality tea protected by a geographical indication, produces around 10,000 tonnes of tea annually on about 17,500 hectares. The recent floods have caused substantial damage to this delicate ecosystem. New plant pests and diseases are also spreading, further threatening the industry.
The recent floods in Darjeeling highlight the vulnerability of India's tea industry to climate change. With more frequent and severe storms, the production of this vital commodity is at risk. The Indian government and tea industry stakeholders must work together to mitigate these challenges and ensure the sustainability of the tea sector, which supports millions of livelihoods.
