Abstract
The climate change impacts are becoming a prominent issue in the Sri Lankan tea sector. This study has attempted to identify vulnerability of tea sector in the major tea growing district of Nuwara Eliya in the central hills of Sri Lanka. Mean monthly rainfall and temperature, drought conditions and soil erosion of Nuwara Eliya district were considered as major variables in climate vulnerability mapping. Climate vulnerability map was developed using weighted overlay modeling in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) by allocating appropriate weightages for the main variables mentioned above for their influence on tea production. Rainfall data analysis for the study period from 1945 to 2005 revealed significantly higher rainfall variability for months of January, June, July, and August, which highlights the need of special management attention in these months. Around 65% of land extent of the study area possessed an ideal temperature regime (18-250C) for growth of tea. Land extent of 3.96% under tea was highly vulnerable for soil erosion in the study area. Less and moderately soil erosion vulnerable tea extent were 79.64% and 16.40%, respectively. The climate vulnerability map developed based on all four variables, revealed that 13.15% tea extent as highly vulnerable for current climate change. Land extent of 20.54% and 66.31% were categorized as moderately and less climate vulnerable, respectively, which could also become vulnerable in future, if present trends continues. Necessary adaptation strategies should therefore be implemented immediately to ensure the sustainability of the tea industry in the central hill region of Sri Lanka. Journal of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka: 2015 Vol. 4 No. 1: 29-48
Highlights
Sri Lanka is an island whose economy is predominantly based on agriculture
Rainfall data analysis for the study period revealed that months of January, June, July and August were having high rainfall variability, which emphasis the need for special attention to reduce negative impacts
The results revealed that the highest percentages of highly vulnerable tea extent were distributed in Nuwara Eliya Divisional Secretary (DS) division
Summary
Traditional peasant agriculture which had been continuing for centuries was replaced by large scale plantation agriculture in the mid-18th century Exotic crops such as tea, rubber, coconut, coffee, and cocoa were intensively cultivated mainly in Wet (>2500 mm annual rainfall) and Intermediate (1750-2500 mm annual rainfall) zones of Sri Lanka. These plantation crops together with other agricultural crops contribute 10.6% to Gross Domestic Product (Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 2013). Out of those plantation crops, tea industry is playing a key role in social and economic stability in Sri Lanka. Total extent of tea plantations at present is 203,020 ha and more than 700,000 workers and their families are dependent on the tea industry (Plantation Sector Statistical Pocket Book, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
