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Heat Stress and Low Wages Push Assam Tea Workers Out

8/27/2026

50 11 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Assam tea producers are losing workers because heat stress and low wages drive laborers to quit.
Assam provides about 52% of India’s tea and supports 700,000 plantation workers and 140,000 growers.
Temperatures in major Assam districts now reach 36-40 °C, causing severe heat stress for pickers.
Each 1 °C rise can cut Indian tea yields by about 87 kg per hectare, according to research.

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Story summary

Assam tea producers are losing workers because heat stress and low wages drive laborers to quit.
Assam provides about 52% of India’s tea and supports 700,000 plantation workers and 140,000 growers.
Temperatures in major Assam districts now reach 36-40 °C, causing severe heat stress for pickers.
Each 1 °C rise can cut Indian tea yields by about 87 kg per hectare, according to research.