Objectives

The primary objectives of the proposed project are to:

• Collect baseline data on the following:
- climate in tea and coconut growing areas
- productivity of tea and coconut for different agro-climatic zones
- socio economic information both from documented sources and primary sources.

• Project the crop response to climate variability scenarios in the coconut and tea growing areas.

• Project the climate change scenarios in the coconut and tea growing areas based on the relevant global circulation model results.

• Assess the impacts of climate change on productivity of tea and coconut and socio economic status of the people within the plantation sector.

• Identify adaptation options and assess their feasibility of implementation.

• Build capacity of natural and social scientists engaged in plantation research for undertaking assessment studies incorporating impacts, vulnerability and adaptation.

• Train scientists to prepare proposals for seeking funds in meeting costs of adaptation to adverse effects of climate change.

Expected Output

• Report on the climate change scenarios applicable to Sri Lanka.

• Report outlining the baseline scenarios on the productivity of tea and coconut and socio-economic status.

• Report giving the extent to which the socio economics of people directly involved in the each sectors in particular and the country in general are affected.

• Report outlining the feasible options for coping with climate variability and adapting to climate change, including their cost effectiveness and their acceptance by policy makers and stake holders including planters and traders.

• A team of plantation scientists trained in the integrated assessment on climate variability and change and in the preparation of proposals for adaptive measures.

• A set of publications in peer-reviewed journals reporting the findings of the project.