Assam’s Tea Industry in a Changing Climate – Heramba Nath 

Assam, the heartland of India’s iconic tea industry, which has for generations contributed not only to the regional economy but also to the cultural soul of the state, now stands on a precarious edge due to the mounting threats posed by climate change. The verdant tea gardens that stretch across the Brahmaputra Valley—once symbols of pride, heritage, and stable livelihoods—are increasingly being subjected to unpredictable weather conditions, rising average temperatures, altered seasonal rhythms, and recurrent floods that disrupt the long-standing natural harmony essential for tea cultivation. These accelerating environmental disruptions are not just statistical anomalies—they represent a serious existential challenge to the entire tea industry, affecting production, market value, and the future security of thousands of dependent lives across Assam.

Tea as a crop is exceptionally climate-sensitive, requiring very specific temperature and rainfall conditions to thrive and maintain both yield and quality. Historically, Assam offered a climate that perfectly suited this need—marked by ample rainfall, moderate humidity, and consistent seasonal patterns—conditions that contributed to its globally acclaimed strong, malty flavour. However, recent climate trends have severely upset this balance. The region’s well-established two-flush harvest cycle—one in early spring and the second in midsummer—is becoming increasingly irregular. Unseasonal spring droughts are delaying or diminishing the first flush, while erratic monsoon patterns bring intense rainfall that not only waterlogs fields but also damages tea roots and washes away vital nutrients from the soil. As a direct consequence, yields are declining, and the quality of tea is deteriorating, thereby weakening Assam’s competitive edge in both domestic and international markets.

Scientific data provided by the Tea Research Association and other agro-climatic studies confirm that average temperatures in the core tea-growing regions of Upper Assam have risen by nearly 2°C over the last several decades. This seemingly modest increase has had disproportionately large consequences. Warmer temperatures have fostered ideal conditions for pests like the red spider mite and the helopeltis bug, both of which attack tender tea leaves and reduce both volume and leaf quality. To combat these pests, many gardens have resorted to increased pesticide use. However, this shift towards chemical dependence is causing significant harm—degrading soil health, threatening beneficial insect species, and reducing biodiversity in and around tea gardens. Moreover, heavy pesticide residues compromise the export potential of Assam tea in organic or premium international markets where safety standards are increasingly stringent.

Climate variability is also manifesting in more frequent and severe rainfall events, which in turn are causing extensive soil erosion, damaging young plants, and increasing the frequency of floods in low-lying tea-growing areas. These floods not only damage the crop directly but also disrupt logistical operations, block access to processing units, and wash away crucial infrastructure. To counteract these impacts, gardens are now having to adopt a range of soil recovery practices such as mulching, composting, and the application of biofertilisers. While beneficial in the long run, these adaptive strategies require substantial investments in training, technology, and resources—all of which are often beyond the reach of small-scale tea growers without coordinated institutional support.

This ecological instability has laid bare the longstanding structural weaknesses of Assam’s tea industry. Chief among them is the absence of a comprehensive, climate-resilient crop insurance system tailored to the unique needs of tea cultivation. The insurance schemes currently available are generic in nature and do not account for partial losses or quality-related degradation. For instance, they fail to consider pest-related leaf damage, delays in harvests due to erratic rain, or a drop in the grade of plucked leaves caused by climatic stress. There is an urgent need to design a tea-specific insurance model that factors in these nuances—covering not only total loss scenarios but also the incremental, hidden damages that cumulatively undermine profitability and sustainability.

Beyond economic concerns, climate change is also worsening the already vulnerable socio-economic conditions of the tea labour force. Assam’s tea workers, a large proportion of whom are from the Adivasi community with deep ancestral ties to the estates, live in tightly packed garden lines that often lack essential amenities like clean drinking water, adequate sanitation, electricity, or proper medical services. During heavy rainfall or floods, these settlements are the first to suffer. Roads become impassable, drinking water sources become contaminated, and access to medical facilities becomes extremely limited. These hardships are intensified by the seasonal nature of tea work, meaning income flow is not always stable, especially when weather conditions disrupt the harvesting cycle.

Another emerging trend is climate-induced migration. In areas where repeated floods or prolonged droughts have made cultivation unreliable, many families are choosing to migrate to nearby towns and cities in search of alternative employment. This steady outflow of skilled and semi-skilled labour is leading to labour shortages in the estates, affecting timely plucking and processing. At the same time, new migrant populations entering the region may create additional social tensions and contribute to fluctuating wage structures, challenging the already fragile industrial harmony of the sector.

Although tea is often viewed as a ‘green’ industry due to its plant-based nature, its cultivation model—particularly the large-scale monoculture format practised in Assam—contributes significantly to environmental degradation. Monocultures reduce ecosystem diversity and weaken natural pest resistance. Furthermore, overreliance on chemical fertilisers and pest-control substances contaminates both surface water and groundwater sources. A paradigm shift toward ecologically sustainable tea farming is not only advisable but necessary. This includes diversifying crops through intercropping, introducing shade-providing trees, reducing chemical inputs in favour of organic alternatives, and implementing landscape-based water conservation and reforestation measures. These efforts not only build resilience to climate stress but also restore the ecological integrity of the region.

Consumer awareness plays a critical role in supporting these changes. Modern tea drinkers, especially in Western and urban Indian markets, are increasingly concerned with how ethically and sustainably their products are sourced. By aligning production methods with sustainability standards such as Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certifications, Assam tea can access premium markets where consumers are willing to pay more for products that are environmentally and socially responsible. However, acquiring these certifications requires training, auditing, and financial investment, which is where government agencies and cooperatives must step in to facilitate this transformation.

Assam’s tea is not merely a commodity—it is an emblem of cultural identity. Tea is embedded in the Assamese way of life—from daily rituals to local festivals and art. This deep cultural resonance can be leveraged to build public understanding of the ecological crisis that the industry faces. By involving schools, universities, local artists, storytellers, and community leaders in awareness campaigns, a broader public dialogue can emerge around the need to protect tea as part of the state’s living heritage and not just as an economic asset.

Media institutions in Assam also have a pivotal role to play. Newspapers, television, and digital platforms must go beyond surface-level reporting on yields and auction prices. They should shine a spotlight on the lived experiences of tea workers, the innovative efforts of smallholders, and the consequences of climate-induced disruptions on everyday lives. Investigative journalism and human-interest stories from tea gardens can help galvanise public sentiment and influence policy directions in a meaningful way.

The industrial infrastructure of tea is not immune to climate shocks either. Rising ambient humidity levels during peak processing periods are interfering with critical stages such as withering, rolling, and fermentation—processes that are sensitive to both time and temperature. As a result, many gardens have been compelled to upgrade machinery, install climate-controlled units, or revise operational hours to adapt to the new climatic reality. While large estates might absorb these costs, smaller gardens often struggle and may face the threat of closure without targeted financial support or public-private partnerships.

In the international arena, producers from Kenya, Sri Lanka, and even China are adapting swiftly to climate challenges through innovation and aggressive rebranding. Assam must rise to this competitive moment by marketing not only its robust flavour but also its unique geographical identity and ecological narrative. Tools like Geographic Indication (GI) tagging, blockchain-enabled traceability, and digital storytelling platforms can help position Assam tea as a high-integrity product, capable of competing in the world’s most discerning markets.

Attracting the younger generation into the tea sector is another crucial challenge that must be addressed with vision and innovation. Many young people from tea-growing communities see the industry as outdated and unpromising, leading them to migrate toward urban jobs. Revitalising the sector requires making it more appealing—through technology, education, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Incubating tea-based start-ups, integrating agritech solutions like mobile-based crop monitoring or AI-driven pest prediction, and offering skill development courses can reinvigorate interest and bring new energy into the tea economy.

At the regional level, Assam would benefit immensely by fostering cooperation with other tea-growing states in the North-East such as Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal. By forming a North-East tea resilience consortium, these states can collaborate on pest control strategies, share climate adaptation research, and launch collective branding campaigns that give the region as a whole a stronger voice in the national and international tea market.

Policymakers should also look beyond economics and reconnect with the indigenous wisdom and spiritual traditions that once guided Assam’s harmonious relationship with the land. The practice of nature worship, community-based land stewardship, and ethical farming has deep roots in the cultural life of Assam. Reinvigorating these values and integrating them into modern agricultural policies can help foster a more holistic and sustainable model of tea cultivation—one that respects both nature and community.

In the final analysis, Assam’s tea industry should not be seen merely as a sector in decline, but as a test case for how traditional agriculture can adapt to the climate crisis with foresight, equity, and ecological sensitivity. If timely action is taken—combining scientific innovation, grassroots empowerment, and policy reform—Assam has the potential to transform its tea economy into a global model of resilience. But time is of the essence. The challenge is not simply to save tea production—it is to safeguard the culture, dignity, and future of an entire ecosystem that revolves around this cherished crop.