Full Breakdown
Climate and Labor Pressures Threaten Assam’s Tea Industry
8/27/2026, 4:32:45 AM
Industry Overview and Recent Climate Impacts
Assam supplies roughly 52 % of India’s tea and sustains about 700,000 plantation workers and 140,000 small growers. Recent floods damaged more than 50 tea gardens, and erratic rainfall now accompanies regularly recorded temperatures of 36 °C to 40 °C (97 °F–104 °F). Research cited by the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) indicates that each 1 °C rise can cut yields by approximately 87 kg per hectare. New pests and deteriorating soil further reduce productivity, while heat stress causes dehydration, exhaustion and fainting among field pickers.
Economic Pressures and Workforce Trends
Labor costs now represent roughly 60 % of total production expenses. Tea prices have barely kept pace with rising input costs, creating a squeeze on growers. Workers typically earn 250–280 Indian rupees per day (about €2.30–€2.60 or $2.63–$2.94), whereas unions are demanding 350–500 rupees to match the cost of living. In several districts, absenteeism has exceeded 50 % as employees shift to construction, urban jobs or government schemes that promise quicker returns. The combined effect of falling productivity and stagnant prices threatens the sector’s long-term viability.
Responses from Plantation Leaders
Sanjiv Gogoi, owner of the 400-acre Sanjiv Tea estate, says productivity declines and unreliable labor supply are forcing growers to confront “a whole range of problems.” Bidyananda Barkakoty, tea-farmer adviser at NETA and former vice-chairman of the Tea Board of India, warns that the widening gap between production costs and market prices is driving experienced workers away, undermining both quality and output. Veteran planter Harkirat Singh Sidhu argues that mechanization and regenerative farming practices—such as improved drainage, shade canopies and reduced pesticide use—are essential to adapt to the changing climate.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Tea is not as profitable as it once was, and there is less certainty about the work,” — Bidesh Kamar
- “Productivity has fallen, and the labor supply is not always reliable. More workers are leaving the plantations because the work no longer pays enough,” — Sanjiv Gogoi
- “Climate change reshaping West Bengal's tea industry To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "We need to make the changes and not be pushed into making changes," Sidhu told DW.” — Harkirat Singh Sidhu
- “The younger generation will stay only when they see a future in the tea gardens, not merely a job,” — Barkakoty. That
