Tea tree production and the demographic structure of tea farmers in Taiwan.

Taiwan is renowned worldwide for its tea and tea-based beverages, boasting superior geographical conditions and a rich tea culture. High-quality teas are primarily produced in mountainous and hilly areas, which offer favorable climate conditions for tea tree growth, including a suitable temperature range of 15°C to 25°C, along with well-drained, organic-rich acidic soils. The tea industry is not only a vital agricultural sector in Taiwan but also holds a unique position in the global market. For instance, brands such as High Mountain Tea and Tie Guan Yin are widely cherished internationally.

However, with changing demographics, tea farmers are facing the challenge of an aging population. Many experienced tea farmers are elderly, while the number of young successors is limited, leading to an increasing shortage of labor in the production process. This issue is particularly pronounced during tea harvesting seasons, where manual picking requires a significant workforce, and temporary labor resources are often insufficient. Attracting more young people to the tea industry and improving labor distribution has become a key issue for ensuring the sustainable development of Taiwan's tea industry.

The Labor Challenges in Tea Leaf Harvesting and Industry Difficulties

The tea harvesting season often requires a large concentration of labor, yet the issue of uneven labor distribution frequently troubles tea farmers. As the demographic structure of tea farmers gradually ages, Taiwan's tea production faces the pressure of labor shortages. It is not only necessary to attract more participation from the younger generation but also urgent to introduce smart monitoring tools to improve management efficiency. Although some young people have begun to enter the tea industry, communication gaps between tea farmers and harvesters during the harvesting process can still lead to issues. For example, harvesters may find that the tea leaves' maturity is not as expected upon arrival, increasing labor and time costs, further exacerbating the challenges of tea plantation management. Combining technology with traditional experience is a key approach to resolving these difficulties.

Scheduling Optimization and Harvest Labor Savings Under Satellite Comprehensive Monitoring

Through the introduction of the smart monitoring platform FarmiSpace, tea farmers can manage their plantations distributed across hills and mountainous areas more efficiently, achieving precise production management. The satellite data provided by the platform can monitor the growth indices of the fields in real time, helping tea farmers quickly understand the maturity and growth progress of the tea leaves. For instance, when using FarmiSpace for comprehensive monitoring, tea farmers only need to select the relevant growth index, and they can immediately view the production status of that area, without needing to visit the site in person, thereby obtaining accurate field information. This not only makes management more efficient but also helps harvesters identify areas that are about to enter the harvest season while avoiding areas currently in fallow. This enhances the precision of tea plantation management and effectively reduces labor and time costs, making tea production more scientific and efficient.

By using growth indices and past field experience, the optimal harvest time can be determined.

With just one click, you can instantly know the growth status of the tea trees within the monitored area.

Conclusion

Taiwan's tea is of excellent quality, and the island boasts a unique production environment. We aim to implement large-scale tea plantation monitoring through the FarmiSpace platform, enabling tea farmers to understand the maturity of their tea trees and use the alert system to remind them of necessary agricultural operations. This will effectively reduce the time spent inspecting the plantations, allowing tea farmers to focus their efforts on other agricultural activities, optimizing their farming schedule.

If you are interested in using satellite monitoring to track the growth status of multiple tea plantations, feel free to click "here" to experience the convenience FarmiSpace offers, or click "About FarmiSpace" to learn more about the platform’s applications and case studies.