&w=3840&q=100)
Growers welcome Centre's move to include tea in weather insurance scheme
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare issued a notification on June 10, stating that the insurance scheme would come into effect from the Kharif 2025.
States and UTs were asked to expedite the floating of tenders, finalisation of the insurance company and other modalities by June 20 to ensure that farmers can avail the benefit of the scheme.
Indian Tea Association (ITA) secretary general Arijit Raha told PTI this is the first time the sector has been brought under the purview of a weather-based insurance scheme.
"The tea sector is witnessing frequent fluctuations in production due to erratic rainfall, waterlogging and a rise in temperature, exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. Climate change adaptation and mitigation have become a major challenge to keep the sector sustainable," he said. "In this context, a weather-based crop insurance is a necessity. We heartily welcome the decision of the Centre to extend the scheme to this sector," he added.
Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers (CISTA) president Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty said the demand for it was being raised for the last five years.
"We welcome this step. Crop insurance is an effective and mitigating component in the backdrop of climate change. Tea cultivation by small growers had been hit by high temperatures and excessive rains," he said.
India, the second-largest tea producer in the world after China, reported 1,382 million kg of production in 2024. In 2023, it produced 1,375 million kg of tea.
Small tea growers contribute to more than 50 per cent of the country's total production.
Assam is the largest tea-producing state in the country, followed by West Bengal and the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and UP are among the states that grow small quantities of tea.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Residential power use rises 10% annually amid intensifying heatwaves: Experts
Residential power consumption in India has been rising steadily by around 10 per cent annually over the last three years, driven by rapid urbanisation, intensifying heatwaves and population growth, experts have said. Experts from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), an independent think tank, said the residential sector accounted for 31 per cent of the country's total electricity consumption in the financial year 2024. The industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors accounted for approximately 32 per cent, 10 per cent and 22 per cent of electricity sales respectively, they said in a briefing note. In 2024 alone, air-conditioner sales surged by 40 to 50 per cent, reflecting a growing demand for indoor cooling amid intensifying heatwaves, they said. According to another recent study, India adds 10 to 15 million (one crore to 1.5 crore) new air-conditioners annually, with another 130 to 150 million (13 crore to 15 crore) expected over the next decade. Without policy intervention, air-conditioners alone could drive 120 gigawatt of peak power demand by 2030 and 180 GW by 2035, nearly 30 per cent of the projected totals. Rural electrification is also playing a key role in increasing residential demand. With near-universal household electrification achieved under schemes like Saubhagya and feeder segregation improving the supply quality, millions of rural households are now receiving longer and more reliable power supply. The IEEFA's analysis of national peak demand trends showed a consistent year-on-year growth, with FY2025 recording the highest monthly peaks so far. May and June have regularly seen the highest electricity demand, likely due to extreme summer temperatures increasing cooling loads. FY2024 and FY2025 both saw their maximum peak loads in September and May respectively -- one due to summer heat and the other potentially due to post-monsoon industrial ramp-up or weather anomalies, said the authors, including the IEEFA's South Asia director, Vibhuti Garg, energy specialists Saloni Sachdeva Michael and Charith Konda, and energy analyst Kaira Rakheja. They said rising temperatures and extreme weather events are now major drivers of electricity demand, particularly in densely-populated and industrialised areas. The northern region comprising Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan accounts for more than 30 per cent of India's peak electricity demand and is especially sensitive to temperature shifts. Between May 16 and May 20 this year, the power demand in the northern region rose steadily amid widespread heatwaves. As one of the country's most electrified and densely-populated cities, Delhi's power consumption closely mirrors temperature trends. Between May 1 and May 16, the national capital's maximum temperature rose from 38.6 degrees Celsius to more than 42 degrees Celsius. During the same period, Delhi's electricity demand climbed from 5,956 MW to 6,789 MW, eventually crossing 8,000 MW in June. On May 15, the national power demand touched 231 GW at 3 pm, during peak solar-generation hours. The demand had already crossed 222 GW by 11 am and remained high through the day. Between 9 pm and 11 pm, even after sunset, it hovered close to 227 GW. A similar spike was recorded on April 25, when the national demand hit 235 GW, indicating that extreme weather is increasingly causing multiple demand peaks in a single day. The authors noted two key takeaways from these patterns. First, the overlap between peak demand and solar generation offers a chance to make better use of solar power, reducing the need for coal during the day. Second, the high demand after sunset highlights the urgent need for energy storage, demand-side measures and hybrid renewable projects to meet evening electricity needs. The analysis showed that coal continues to dominate India's electricity generation, accounting for nearly 73 per cent (or 157.6 GW) of the daily supply. It plays a critical role, particularly in the evening when solar availability drops. Solar energy accounts for around 9.5 per cent of the daily generation, peaking between 10 am and 2 pm. Around noon, the solar output often crosses 60 GW, helping manage high daytime cooling needs. Wind and hydro power add around 3 per cent and 8 per cent respectively, providing crucial support during morning and evening transitions.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
10 hours ago
- Business Standard
Delhi to see cloudy skies, light rain today; air quality improves to 'good'
Delhi continued to experience pleasant monsoon conditions on Tuesday morning, following light rain over parts of the city on Monday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more showers throughout the day, with generally cloudy skies expected to prevail. According to its bulletin issued on July 15, the weather office indicated likelihood of light to moderate rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Surface winds ranging between 20–30 kmph are anticipated, with occasional gusts reaching up to 40 kmph. Delhi's air finally 'good' Delhi's air quality also showed marked improvement on Tuesday, reaching the 'good' category. As per data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 48 at 8 am on 15 July. According to CPCB standards, an AQI between 0–50 is categorised as 'good', 51–100 as 'satisfactory', 101–200 as 'moderate', 201–300 as 'poor', 301–400 as 'very poor', and 401–500 as 'severe'. IndiGo issues travel advisory In light of prevailing weather conditions, IndiGo issued an advisory on the evening of 14 July, urging commuters to remain cautious on wet and slippery roads. The airline also assured passengers that it is closely monitoring the weather to ensure minimal disruption to operations. Travel Advisory ⛈️Heavy rainfall is affecting large parts of #Delhi, and some roads towards the airport are experiencing water build-up and traffic delays. If you have a flight, please leave earlier than usual and check your flight status on our app or website… — IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) July 14, 2025 Rain forecast for Delhi till 21 July The IMD has predicted that rainfall and overcast skies will persist across the Capital until 21 July. The department's update suggests continued cloudy weather, with intermittent light showers, thunderstorms and lightning. While the intensity of thunderstorms may taper off later in the week, cloudy skies are expected to remain. A cyclonic circulation situated over northern Haryana and adjoining areas is influencing the weather pattern in Delhi, leading to cloud development and precipitation. Daytime temperatures are forecast to remain in the range of 33 to 35 degrees Celsius, while humidity levels may fluctuate between 80 and 90 per cent. Flash flood alert in 19 Jharkhand districts The IMD has issued a flash flood warning for 19 Jharkhand districts, including Ranchi, Gumla, and Dhanbad, effective till 5.30 pm on July 16, due to expected heavy rainfall. An 'orange' alert for very heavy rain is in place for six districts, including Palamu and Hazaribag, while a 'yellow' alert covers 10 others. The warning spans two days, with significant rainfall likely to cause waterlogging and localised flooding in low-lying areas. Fatalities, infra damage reported in Rajasthan Rajasthan experienced intense rainfall, with Khatauli in Kota recording 198 mm. A low-pressure area over Madhya Pradesh is driving the wet spell. Five youths were reportedly swept away in the Chambal river after a surge caused by the opening of Kota Barrage gates. In Jaipur, a road near a metro pillar caved in, forming a 12-foot sinkhole. Another youth drowned while crossing the overflowing Bamani river in Dholpur. Authorities are monitoring vulnerable areas for further risks. Himachal continues to face monsoon fury Heavy rains have claimed 105 lives in Himachal Pradesh between 20 June and 14 July, as per the SDMA. Of these, 61 deaths were due to landslides, flash floods, electrocution and related weather events, while 44 were caused by rain-related road accidents. Mandi, Kangra, and Hamirpur are the worst-hit districts. Continuous rainfall has led to damaged roads, unsafe terrain, and hazardous travel conditions, prompting advisories and disaster response efforts across the state.
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Breezy week ahead for capital with light showers, cloudy skies: IMD
NEW DELHI: Delhi began the week under a breezy, overcast sky on Monday, with light rainfall recorded across the city and parts of Noida. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), strong surface winds reaching up to 40 kmph, along with thunderstorms and lightning, kept the weather relatively pleasant despite high humidity. Daytime temperatures remained below the seasonal average, with the maximum between 32 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius and the minimum hovering around 24 degrees Celsius to 26 degrees Celsius. Winds from the southeast picked up in the afternoon and eased by night. The IMD forecasts partly cloudy skies and light showers over the next two days, with temperatures ranging between 33 and 35 degrees Celsius. July 16 and 17 are likely to see isolated rain and thunder, offering brief evening relief. Delhi airport issued a travel advisory due to sudden rain and gusty winds, advising passengers to check flight statuses and prefer Metro travel. This stretch of mild, breezy weather is expected to continue, even as other parts of northern and central India brace for heavy rain.
