The impacts of seasonal drought on Sri Lankan tea cultivation and mitigation measures

Abstract

Drought is a serious ecological hazard and tea is no exception to the frequent damage caused by recent drought on cultivated crops. Tea (Camellia Sinensis) is one of the most economic crops and being perennial, tea plant often experiences natural seasonal drought, which affects its growth and productivity. Drought is the single main constraint in any given year on tea yields. Drought affects both the quantity and quality of tea, leading to a considerable loss of export earnings. Production costs can also increase during drought due to the need for additional inputs. The growth stage of tea varies depending on whether it is young tea or mature tea. Measures to reduce the drought impact should be taken according to the growth stage of the Tea. Therefore, the study aims to identify the impacts of seasonal drought on tea cultivation in Sri Lanka and to propose measures to reduce the impact of seasonal drought on Sri Lankan tea cultivation. This study has been undertaken using qualitative research methods. This research was conducted using primary and secondary data to achieve the objectives of the study, which is Key information interviews (KII), Focused Group Discussions (FGD), field surveys and secondary data from Tea Research Institute (TRI). Tea growth during the monsoon season was up to 50% higher than during the spring drought. It was noted from the discussion that temperature, rainfall, air saturation deficits, soil water content, radiation, daylight hours and evaporation are affecting tea production. Further, the temperature, rainfall and the occurrence of extreme weather events all have negative consequences on the tea industry