'Climate change to positively impact rice, tea in northeast'

Kolkata: Climate change is going to "positively" impact rice and tea crops in northeast, a scientist said on Friday.

According to Chandan Mahanta of the IIT-Guwahati, a modelling study carried out by the institute showed in the next 15 years (till 2030), rice and tea can actually have an advantage from climate change.

"Climate change is going to positively impact rice and tea in at least coming 15 years in the northeast. We have modelled that," Mahanta said here at the South Asia Water Dialogue, adding that scientists looked at climate data, such as temperature, humidity and precipitation in the region to study the changes on the two important crops.

Explaining the variation, he said: "Sometimes it's not just the temperature alone but also the rate of change of temperature or the rate of change of precipitation so it is not always very simple to say."

In addition, the difference in growing times also has an influence.

"Tea is grown at three different times. Even rice is grown at different times. Maybe one particular rice variety may be less affected, others may be more affected," said Mahanta, a professor of the department of civil engineering.

The Dialogue was organised by Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with the German Embassy.