Plantations in Assam produce more than half of India's tea. But rising heat is hurting yields, workers are increasingly leaving for more stable work, and producers are feeling the squeeze of stagnant tea prices.
The problems facing upper Assam's tea gardens are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore for workers like Bidesh Kamar and Sumitra Tanti.
Recent floods disrupted work for weeks in the northeast Indian state, adding even more uncertainty to their already precarious livelihood. More than 50 tea gardens were damaged following a devastating storm that swept across parts of Assam.
"Life has become unpredictable," Tanti told DW.
"The weather can disrupt work, while wages remain low and work is not as dependable as it once was," she added.
