This empirical study investigates the resilience strategies against meteorological hazards adopted by tea farmers in Pinglin, in New Taipei City, Taiwan over one year. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were applied to establish the main hazard threat to tea farming in the area and identify the different mechanisms they use to increase their resilience capacities against weather-related hazards. Different components of a resilience conceptual framework consisting of awareness, coping mechanisms and adaptations by investigating the role of species choice, cultivation method and disaster relief and sales methods.
Interviews were conducted with six tea farmers and a district office during several visits to the area. A content analysis categorised behavioural, economic, and ecological factors into different resilience strengthening measures. Profiles of plantations were developed according to the species of the tea tree and cultivation method and the production was analysed by applying a t-test. Results revealed that drought is the main hazard of concern for tea farmers in Pinglin and the species of choice is a critical tool in dealing with drought by helping farmers formulate different income-orientated strategies. Eco-friendly tea cultivation is also an effective tool for tea farmers to reduce the impact of adverse weather conditions on their businesses. It diversifies sales and helps develop specialised tea products increasing incomes, farmers involved in wild tea cultivation can also reap mitigation benefits to prevent losses. This study also showed that farmers frequently apply horticultural methods on the plantations or avoid harvests to cope with drought and typhoons. This coincided with negative opinions of financial relief from state authorities, on the other hand, state subsidies for irrigation are favoured by tea farmers.

Key Words: Resilience, Drought, Adaptation, Coping mechanisms, Tea tree species, Jin Xuan, Oolong, Disaster relief, Eco-friendly.

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