From the Guardian:
Climate change causing havoc to coffee and tea farmers, says Cafédirect
• Small growers forced to higher altitudes
• Government gives £12m to Fairtrade FoundationResearch across four countries – Kenya, Mexico, Peru and Nicaragua – carried out with the state-funded German Technical Corporation, showed that growers are already being forced uphill to higher altitudes, at a rate of three to four metres a year on average, as temperatures rise. “A huge number of growers are now experiencing increased instances of pestilence and disease from rises in temperature. They are also facing prolonged drought and changing weather patterns,” said Cafédirect chief executive, Anne MacCaig.
- Heather Stewart and Nick Mathiason
- The Guardian, Saturday 10 October 2009
- Article history
Climate change is already wreaking havoc on the livelihoods of small-scale tea and coffee farmers in some of the world’s poorest countries, according to a three-year research project by Fairtrade drinks producer Cafédirect.
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Also look into this study of the impact of Climate Change on the Sri Lankan tea production.
….Reports have also shown that about 30 cm of soil has already been eroded from upland tea plantations. Under these circumstances, the tea industry in Sri Lanka is clearly vulnerable to predicted climate changes, and subsequently greater economic, social, and environmental problems….
It’s blog action day, and Cha-Cha-Cha joins bloggers worldwide to create awareness and encourage action on climate change on Oct. 15 2009.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I’ve often wondered what’s going to happen with tea due to climate change. The good news for me is that I expect tea will be one of the plants that survives for a long time because of its popularity. People will find a way to adapt to a warming world so they can still have their tea. At least for a good, long time. –Teaternity