Sylhet s Tea Industry Faces Climate Challenges

Sylhet, Bangladesh's northeastern hub for tea production, is grappling with the dual pressures of erratic weather patterns and aging tea gardens, threatening a cornerstone of the region's economy. The area, home to over 300 tea estates, contributes nearly 90% of Bangladesh's total tea output, but recent reports indicate a 12% decline in production over the past three years, according to the Bangladesh Tea Board.

Farmers and industry experts attribute the downturn to unpredictable monsoon cycles and rising temperatures, which have disrupted traditional growing seasons. "The tea plants are sensitive to both waterlogging and drought," said Abdul Kalam, a 55-year-old worker at the Moulvibazar Tea Estate. "Last year, we had two heavy floods in a month, and now the soil is struggling to recover." The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has documented a 2°C increase in average annual temperatures in Sylhet since 2010, exacerbating soil degradation and pest infestations.

Local authorities have initiated a $15 million project to modernize irrigation systems and introduce climate-resilient tea varieties, funded partly by the World Bank. However, smallholder growers, who manage 40% of Sylhet's tea fields, report limited access to these resources. "The government schemes often bypass us,\