PROGRAM OF RESEARCH ON WEATHER/CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT IN TEA ECOSYSTEMS IN SRI LANKA
| Summary of the project |
| Sponsors |
| Proponents |
| Project briefs |
| First quater summary |
| Work plan |
| OUTPUTS |
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
This is a collaborative initiative between Foundation for Environment, climate and Technology and University of Peradeniya which aims to assess the impacts of climate on the Tea Plantation System in Sri Lanka, with the focus on the impacts on the tea production, yield. This is a one-year project sponsored by the Dilmah Conservation.
The objectives of the project are to outline the needs assessment and knowledge resource including metadata, Climate Analysis on tea data, identification of climate data for tea sector needs, climate Diagnostics, and analysis of Climate Impacts on Tea.
So far through this project we have been engaged with Dilmah Conservation personnel and had meetings with experts in tea research and a comprehensive search was undertaken of the scientific literature on the topic of climate and tea both in Sri Lanka and internationally. Also, have obtained an initial list of possible data sources, including Dilmah owned companies, other plantation companies and plantations and Metadata on the available data from various sources have been compiled.
Proponents:
Dr. Lareef Zubair, Tropical Climate and FECT and Columbia University (Project Leader)
Prof. P. Wickramagamage, University of Peradeniya and Tropical Climate / FECT
PROJECT BRIEFS:
Project flyer
FIRST QUARTER SUMMARY:
During the 1st quarter the highlights have been engagement with Dilmah Conservation personnel and with the compilation of a general introduction to the topic of climate and tea, the engaged with some key personnel and agencies, and compilation of sources of basic aggregate data.
- Meetings with Stakeholders: The teams had meetings with experts in tea research, met with a tea estate superintendents and overseers and have visited three estates.
- Events
i. Dr. Zubair and Prof. Wickramagamage have met three times with the Dilmah Climate Change Council and Prof. Wickramagamage joined in the opening ceremony of the Dilmah climate observatory
ii. We have obtained advise and input from the Dilmah Conservation Manager Mr. Asanka Abayakoon in person, by phone and via email
iii. We have met four times with the Superintendent of the Queensbury Estate (Mr. Nayanajith)
iv. Project Staff have undertaken consultations during five visits to Queensbury Estate
v. Project Leader and Staff have visited Doteloya Estate in Aranayake twice to obtain data and advice
vi. Project Leader and Staff have visited Duckwari Estate in Rangala to obtain climate data and advice
vii. Project Leader and Staff met with TRI staff members from Talawakelle, Ratnapura and Hanthana at the Plantation Exhibition.
viii. A list of plantations with Dilmah relationships and those without has been assembled and after consultation with Dilmah Conservation some of these shall be visited for data and possible engagement for research.
Literature Review: Aa comprehensive search was undertaken of the scientific literature on the topic of climate and tea both in Sri Lanka and internationally was undertaken, including a national database (University of Peradeniya, Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka Council of Agricultural Research, and National Science Foundation) and the international databases that are available through databases and in the University of Peradeniya and Columbia University Libraries. A review of these researches and understanding has been prepared.
Data Collection: Also, have obtained an initial list of possible data sources, including Dilmah owned companies, other plantation companies and plantations and Metadata on the available data from various sources have been compiled.
WORK PLAN
- Assessing Climate Information Needs/Resources for Tea Sector
- Tea sector Data for Climate Analysis
- Climate data for Tea Sector Needs
- Climate Diagnostics
- Climate Impacts on Tea
- Communication and Dissemination
- Outlining Needs Assessment and Knowledge Resources including
- Metadata on sources of available and essential data tea sector
- Identification of key missing data, quality control and databases for tea growing areas
Tea sector Data for Climate Analysis
- Metadata on availability of data for the tea sector and from plantations
- Compilation of available and essential tea related data.
- Quality Assessment of the Data
- Brief interim / final reports on Data Collection
Climate data for Tea Sector Needs
- Metadata on availability of climate and environmental data for the tea regions
- Compilation of available and essential tea related data.
- Identification of missing data / plans to obtain these later
- Quality Assessment of the Data
- Brief interim /final reports on Data Collection
- Climatological Analysis for available variables
- Report on historical seasonal and inter-annual variability
- Report on reports of decadal variability and climate change in tea producing areas
- Statistical analysis to assess climate impacts on tea production yield and price/quality
- Developing statistical model to predict climate impacts on yield, production and quality/price
- Data mining to review seasons with extreme climate influences on tea quality / productivity.
- Brief Interim/Final Reports
Communication and Dissemination
- Selected persons provided with weekly climate report
- Customized weather and climate histories for designated early adopters
- Online access for early adopters
- Couple of estate specific reports if data is available
- Contributions to workshops
OUTPUTS
| Conferences posters and videos |
| Blogs |
| Reports |
| Quarterly progress report |
| Tea report |
| Publications |
| Other information resources |
| Meta data |
| Gallery |
Conferences posters and videos
Blogs
Reports
Quarterly progress report
Tea Report
Publications
Other information resources
Meta data
GALLERY
For Internal Use of Staff
Staff Page
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