India is bringing artificial intelligence, satellite imagery and drone technology into the tea sector through a new initiative called CHAAYANKAN. The project has been launched by the Tea Board in collaboration with ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre and NIT Rourkela.
The initiative aims to use advanced technology to monitor tea plantations more efficiently. Satellite imagery, weather information, field observations and drone surveys will be combined to identify crop stress, pests and diseases at an earlier stage.
Another important objective is improving the accuracy of tea-yield forecasts. Better information about crop conditions could help growers make more informed decisions about plantation management and resource use.
The project reflects the growing use of precision agriculture in India, where satellite and artificial-intelligence systems are increasingly being applied to traditional farming activities. For tea growers, early identification of plant health problems could potentially reduce losses and improve productivity.
CHAAYANKAN is planned as a multi-year initiative and will cover major tea-growing regions. The project could eventually provide a technology-driven approach to monitoring large plantations, particularly where conventional field inspections are time-consuming.
The initiative represents an important step toward combining India’s space and AI capabilities with agriculture.
