Tea Board India Partners with ISRO and NIT Rourkela for AI-Driven Tea Plantation Monitoring

Tea Board India has entered into a landmark tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela. The collaboration officially launches a nationwide research and development initiative titled “CHAAYANKAN: Comprehensive AI-based Geospatial Data Analytics for Tea Plantation Monitoring.” Scheduled to run from April 2026 through March 2029, the project aims to integrate cutting-edge space technology and artificial intelligence across India's primary tea-growing regions. Under the agreement, the project will leverage hyperspectral and optical remote sensing data gathered from satellites and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). These high-resolution aerial datasets will be combined with ground-level field observations, local weather inputs, and entomological data. Advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms will then analyze the combined data to create automated solutions for the tea industry. Key objectives include automated mapping of tea-growing zones, early detection of biotic and abiotic crop stress, predictive forecasting of major agricultural pests and diseases, and accurate estimation of green leaf yield. The Tea Board India will extend administrative and technical field support through its existing network to ensure seamless implementation and integration of ground data. The Indian tea sector has faced mounting challenges due to climate fluctuations, pest attacks, and labor constraints. By combining satellite surveillance with machine learning models, the CHAAYANKAN initiative seeks to enhance overall crop productivity, build a robust national geospatial database, and provide data-driven insights to support future agricultural policy decisions.