Kolkata, September 3, 2026: 

 

Tea Board India has entered into a landmark tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space, Government of India, and the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, to undertake an ambitious research and development project titled “चायंकन (CHAAYANKAN): Comprehensive AI-based Geospatial Data Analytics for Tea Plantation Monitoring.”

 

The MoU was exchanged on August 27, 2026, marking a significant step towards leveraging advanced space technology, geospatial analytics and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) for modernising tea plantation monitoring in India.

 

The project, scheduled to be implemented from April 2026 to March 2029, will cover major tea-growing regions of the country. It will integrate hyperspectral and optical remote sensing data obtained through satellites and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with ground-based observations, weather inputs and entomological datasets to develop advanced technology-driven solutions for the tea sector.

 

The key objectives of the CHAAYANKAN project include:

 

Development of AI/ML algorithms for automatic mapping of tea-growing areas;

 

Detection and automated monitoring of biotic and abiotic stresses using hyperspectral data;

 

Forecasting of major pests and diseases affecting tea plantations; and

 

Estimation of green leaf yield using UAV- and satellite-based hyperspectral indices.

 

Under the collaboration, Tea Board India will provide technical and ground-level support through its existing administrative framework to facilitate smooth implementation of the project and integration of field-level data.

 

The initiative is expected to address some of the major challenges confronting the tea industry, particularly in the areas of crop stress monitoring, pest and disease management and yield estimation. The application of advanced geospatial technologies and AI-driven analytical tools is expected to support more efficient monitoring and contribute towards improving productivity and sustainability in tea cultivation.

 

The project will also facilitate the creation of a robust data repository that can support evidence-based analysis and inform future policy decisions relating to the tea sector.

 

Through the collaboration with NRSC-ISRO and NIT Rourkela, Tea Board India aims to integrate cutting-edge space-based technologies and academic research with field-level requirements of the tea industry. The initiative reaffirms the Board's commitment to technological modernisation of the sector and to strengthening the productivity, sustainability and global competitiveness of Indian tea.

 

The tripartite partnership represents an important convergence of tea-sector expertise, space technology and academic research, with the potential to establish technology-enabled systems for comprehensive monitoring of India's tea plantations.

 

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SSS/PK/Kol/3.9.26

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