Tea cultivation could face a crisis if adequate rainfall is not received between January and March next year (2027) due to the effects of El Niño, the Tea Research Institute (TRI) has warned.
The TRI disclosed this information at the 35th National Monsoon Forum – 2026, recently held by the Department of Meteorology at the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
The TRI said there was a need to introduce a programme to obtain water for tea cultivation from small reservoirs and anicuts in preparation for El Niño conditions.
It said tea cultivation in Sri Lanka had suffered severe damage due to the El Niño conditions that prevailed in 1983.
The next major impact on tea production occurred in 1992, when a severe drought reduced tea production by around 25%, according to the TRI.
However, the TRI noted that the El Niño conditions experienced that year were not particularly strong.
It added that subsequent El Niño events had not caused any serious impact on tea cultivation.
The institute said it had already issued an advisory to tea growers on the measures to be taken if dry weather conditions prevail from January to March next year.
As tea is a rain-fed cultivation
, the institute stressed the need to manage available water resources.
The institute also said that areas such as Madolsima in the Badulla District had experienced a severe drought in recent months, causing the destruction of many tea plants in both smallholdings and large-scale tea estates.
Some tea growers had been obtaining water for their tea plantations in an unregulated manner from anicuts in higher-elevation areas.
However, the TRI said these arrangements had been destroyed by Cyclone Ditwah.
The TRI said tea cultivation around anicuts and small reservoirs could be promoted more effectively in pursuit of the target of producing 400 million kg of tea.
Tea cultivation was gradually expanding in areas such as Gampaha and Kurunegala, and water from anicuts could be used to supply these plantations, it added.
The TRI warned that a risk situation could arise if rainfall ceases before Jan. 15, 2027.
As rainfall is generally lower in February, tea cultivation could suffer substantial damage, it said.
The 35th National Monsoon Forum was held under the patronage of Director General of the Department of Meteorology Ajith Wijemannage.
(Source: Aruna)