Agricultural Economics

Agricultural Economics

Sustainability Strategies for Iran's Tea Production Chain Under Climate Change Conditions: A Modeling Approach

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Ka. C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj
2 Department of Agriculture Economics K a. C., Islamic Azad University
10.22034/iaes.2025.2057569.2118
Abstract
The tea industry, as one of Iran's significant agricultural sectors, is influenced by various factors including climate change, economic fluctuations, quality standards, and managerial issues. The objective of this study is to evaluate and improve the performance of the tea production chain in Gilan Province with emphasis on climate change conditions. For this purpose, the Analytic Network Process (ANP) model was employed to identify and prioritize criteria and sub-criteria affecting the tea production chain. The required data were collected through expert opinions and pairwise comparison questionnaires. The statistical population comprised tea farmers and tea processing factories in Gilan Province, with a sample size of 253 individuals determined using stratified sampling method. The results revealed that climatic criteria, with a weight of 0.067, have the greatest impact on tea production chain resilience, particularly precipitation changes that play a pivotal role in the production and quality of green tea leaves. Among economic criteria, production costs were identified as the most important factor, which affects the resilience of farmers and processing factories due to input price fluctuations and harvesting costs. Furthermore, within the quality criteria, harvested tea leaf quality held the highest importance. Finally, among managerial criteria, training and awareness-raising for farmers and personnel was recognized as the most influential sub-criterion, playing a crucial role in the sustainability of the tea production chain. Based on the findings of this research, developing climate risk management strategies and implementing modern agricultural and processing technologies can contribute to improving tea production chain performance and provide the foundation for sustainable development of this industry.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 09 September 2025