FAO-IGG inter-sessional meeting (Milan, October 15-16, 2015)

Chair: India – Dr. R.M. BhagatCo-Chairs: Sri Lanka - Dr. M.A. Wijeratne

Kenya – Dr. J. Bore

Members: ChinaJapanTanzaniaMalawiBangladeshRwandaIndonesia

WG on CLIMATE CHANGE

ACTION PLAN

• Data collection and analysis to be continued.• Analysis of vulnerability /suitability with IPCC,

AR 5 scenarios to continue.• Collate and combine adaptation strategies

common to all WG countries along with country specific strategies.

• Publish a booklet on adaptation strategies common to all countries in English and release it in the next FAO-IGG meeting.

• Translation of the booklet into different country specific languages.

• Implementation of adaptation strategies on pilot scale in each country & impact analysis.

1. Impact Analysis: Climate trendsAnnual total Rainfall, 1918-2014, Jorhat, Assam, India

Rainfall

Minimum Temperature

Parameter Mean SD

Mann KendallStatistic

(S)

Kandell tau

Var(S)P-Value(Two-tailed)

AlphaSen's Slope

Test Interpretation

Rainfall 2000.5 252.1 -820.000 -0.176 102949.3 0.011 0.95 -2.397Reject HoSig.trend

Minimum Temperature 18.762 0.561 2483.0 0.594 87901.0 <0.0001 0.95 0.018

Reject HoSig.trend

Relative Humidity (Morning) 93.730 1.071 -33.0 -0.021 21060.3 0.825 0.95 -9.062E-4

Reject HoSig.trend

Relative Humidity

(Afternoon) 64.349 1.741 -10.000 -0.006 21074.6 0.951 0.95 0Accept HoNo trend

Mann - Kendall Model test for climate trends

2. Projections 2100 – AR 5 Scenarios

Establishment and management of shade trees

• Shade tree management to control air and leaf temperature.

• Maintenance of humid condition in gardens by planning optimum shade to delay onset of drought.

3. Adaptation strategies

Shaded

Exposed

Crop Diversification

• Introducing other crops with economic benefits to the tea farmers to cushion them from the negative impacts of climate change.

• Selection of land with better soil conditions for replanting with tea.

• Diversification of land with marginal soil condition or degraded land for fuel wood (energy plantations) or timber plantations

Developing climate resilient cultivars

• TRIs, have developed and commercialized various clones which are drought, disease and pest tolerant.

• Emphasis on R&D for clones tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses.

• Planting of tea cultivars that can withstand adverse (dry) weather conditions, heat and poor soil conditions.

• Current cultivars need to be tested for future climate scenarios and simulation studies need to be carried out for the existing cultivars as to how they behave in future climate scenarios.

Soil and water conservation• Optimum soil and water conservation measures should be

adopted e.g. mulches especially in young tea land, retaining pruning materials and cut grasses on the soil surface.

• Drains should be grassed and drainage should be scientifically planned.

• Planting of green manure crops as SALT (Sloping Agriculture Land Technology) hedge rows.

• Burying of prunings and forking

• Water bodies may be created in the garden, which of course should not result in the profile flooding.

• Water conservation during the rainy season to be used for irrigation during the drought period.

Maintenance of organic matter in soils

• Adequate organic matter in soils retains both water and nutrients

and helps prolong the onset of droughts.

• Higher organic matter soils are healthier and rich in nutrients.

• More organic matter brings cultivation nearer to natural conditions – brings more resilience

IRRIGATION

• Choice of appropriate irrigation method

• Overhead – Sprinkler• Subsurface – Drip

Cost factor – availability of water

2010 Feb

14

Risk reduction and management

• Developing early warning systems and developing linked decision

support systems.

• This will reduce sensitivity to the impacts of climate change and

increase the adaptive capacity of tea farmers.

• Weather forecasting system linked advisories

Emission reduction• The tea industry has two issues to greenhouse gas emissions

e.g. in Kenya:

• Use of fuel wood in tea processing resulting from the high cost of electricity

• Low energy efficiency estimates show that 1 ha of fuel wood is required for every 3.3 to 4 ha of tea planted.

• Mandatory energy audits of tea factories on annual basis to improve on energy efficiency

• Explore alternative sources of energy such as wind, solar and hydro.

Climate Awards

• Motivating the stakeholders in taking up the climate change adaptation and mitigation technologies.

• Giving suitable awards to companies/individuals for bringing out more climate resilience

Market diversification and value addition

• Availing the appropriate materials for product diversification based on demand e.g. in Kenya black tea demand decreased and green tea demand increased considering its health benefits.

• Kenya also released a number of varieties including the purple tea that has high anthocyanin content, high yields and is tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Printing of booklet on adaptation strategies (50-60 pages)

--- will need budget

• Number of copies• Quality of printing

(Cost of printing in English - donor to be identified)

Translation in to local languages (each WG country) for smallholders

Implementation of adaptation strategies on pilot scale

• Awareness programmes/trainings – Financial support

• Actual implementation on pilot scale in tea gardens – Financial support

Thank You