TEESTA SMAL TEA FARMERS ASSOCIATION
Kleinbauern in Darjeelings abgelegenem Hochland.TEESTA SMALL TEA FARMERS COMMITTEE
(a legal body of Government &Tea Board registered farmers)
P.O.Tinchullay busty,Takdah ,
Dist.Darjeeling
This committee isa collectiveinitiative and togetherness of 56 marginalized and economically disadvantaged small traditional farmers with democratically constituted governing body from the member farmers who undertook a decisive far reaching revolutionary decision to convert a part of their traditional farmland for planting and establishing organically world famous and highly acclaimed worldwide champagne of TEA – Darjeeling TEA, retaining however major areas for existing agriculture for inter cropping with an eco-friendly eye on bio-diversity in search of a sustainable long term alternative viable agro-economy and economic independenceowing to extreme and pathetic economic compulsions dependent only on traditional agro-based economy with tie up and partnership with Tea Promoters India , a well wisher , pioneer andpromoters of small farmers initiative in the region
The name Teesta is derived from the river TEESTA,a major and very important river which has origin in the Himalayas in Sikkim and flows towards the plains of West Bengal enriching en routethe soil and surroundings with its majestic and holy cool Himalayan breeze .The Teesta farmers farms/villages overlooking river TEESTA are situated at varying altitude of about 1500-1700 meters, climatically suitable for growing high quality tea. The Teesta farmers’ region is unique in beauty and picturesque, a hunt of the tourists both native and foreigners alike for calm, cool, eco-friendly travel , tourism and splendid and magnificent view of majestic Kunchunjunga and the Himalayan range. The villages are surrounded by thick virgin reserve forest and it is rich in natural flora and fauna. It is 38 km. away from Darjeeling town. The nearest Airport Bagdogra . and the railway stationGhoom, are 80 km and 38 km.away .respectively
There are fifty six farmers involved in tea growing from five villages namely Upper Mangwa, Reeyok busty, Upper kolbong, Upper lingding and Upper Humbusty .Tea planting activitiesstarted in a small way by some enterprising farmers but could not progress very far in absence ofplanned and organized approach, technical support and assistance in the form of planting materials, technical know how etc anda reliable promoting partner with commitments . They were traditionally orthodox farmers(not readily ready for change/changes ) involved in cultivation of traditional agriculture and cash crops like black cardamom,potatoes ,maize, vegetables etc., whichis no more economically remunerative(can not sustain even minimum livelihood ) and sustainable due to low yield, rising cost of production, economic havoc played by soil and air borne diseases, depredation and damages to crop by wild animals(Tea is not eaten ,destroyed etc by the wild animals), high elevation and difficult terrain for agriculture, lack of marketing avenues pushing them constantly, perpetually under the mercy of money lenders and eternal debt
To-day the committee’s partnership with TPI has facilitated planning and growing of tea in a planned, organized and systematic manner for alternative sustainable economy with due utmost care and respect for the existing naturally natural bio-diversity andbio-organic atmosphere and status by encouraging and promoting inter-cropping of other agriculture products by planting tea only in part of the land, notinterfering with the existing natural eco -balance ,without causing any disturbance to the soil and environment, protection to existing rich wild life ,fauna and flora. Tea growing in small farmers’ region is turning into a small green revolution as more and more marginalized farmers are encouraged to join the movement. for sustainable economic growth.
Teesta farmers today grows tea in about 85acres(more areas being planted out) of land and estimated production in 2008 is expected to be in the region of about two tons which is expected to go up to 5/6 tons in about3 or 4 years time. The high grown harvest is facilitated to be transported, processed in TPI’s nearest tea factoryOrganic Singelland to sustain this economic movementand initiative of the small farmers, TPI would like to enlist firm support and continuesassurance and high commitments of strong EuropeanFair-trade buyers who will buy the PRODUCT, resulting in the support and participation in the growth and economic sustainabilityof these initiatives which will in turn encourage or promote other economically disadvantaged small farmers in the region to join this economically sustainable movement - an alternative economically viable agro-economy and an alternative business model.
Today TPI is engaged in imparting technical guidance, know how, plants and planting materials, through its competent representatives, regular interaction, visits ,inspections and workshops :
1.Tea planting, husbandry ,culture and agro-practices etc
2.Selection of suitable planting areas and growing teaorganically by utilizing natural resources, materials found in abundance within the farmland and surroundings without causing any disturbance to the soil and existingeco-balance and making available requisite number of scientifically approved high quality and high yielding nursery grown Darjeeling tea plants
3.Preparationoflandfor tea planting in organic way, land planning-contour drainage and contour plantingin order to conserve soil and not to cause soil erosion, land slides etc..
4.Identification of natural herbs, plants etc for plant extracts for plant protection ,pest and diseasescontrol and management
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5.Scietific preparation oforganic composts rich in natural ingredients with inputs,resources availablewithin the farms, families –cattle ,goat manures, poultry droppings, natural green vegetations ,herbs and grassesetc .for use/application not only in Tea areas but also in other crops.
6.Organising work shops, seminars for involving the committee and farmers incapacity building and socio-economic awarenessprogrammes and activitieswith a view to enable them to be self reliant and responsible collective body who will think, plan and act collectively towards collective decision making,community’s progress and development. Theyare also facilitated /encouraged to participate in TPI’s group’scapacity building or enhancement workshops which are heldatregular intervals at different venues on aspects of socio-economic nature, education ,health and hygiene, sanitation, and issues affecting or ailing the communities at large by in-house or outside
resource persons./NGOs/ etc. SPECIAL attention is taken and awareness, capacity building programmes are held for WOMEN EMPOWERMENT with a view to encourage and promote them for participation in the decision making and socio-economic activities of the communitieswho are the backboneof the societies and can play very important role in the well being and development of the societies.
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STATUS OF THETEESTA small Tea farmerscommittee as of March 2008
A.Committee is government registered ,a legal body under society’s act of the farmer members
.B. Farmers cultivating Tea are duly Tea Board registered farmers.
C.Is on organic conversion-- under inspection and certification by SKAL-although already naturally organic .Farmers are already trained in ICS(internal control system) and maintenance of other relevant documents and the samerequisite for organic certification is already being followed and in place which is checked regularly and monitored by TPI competent representatives.
D. Applied for Fair trade registration for production of ethical product with social value and quality in order to ensure self reliance and ultimate long term economic independence and viability of the farmers and communities at large .
FAIR TRADEpremium can be a boon for use by the committee/farmers for its socio-economic, educational needs and building minimum requisite infrastructure
