09te-5523 - Strengthening tea cooperatives and its district federations

Tea Sector Service Centre

The 2009 project focussed much on institutional strengthening of Cooperatives and district federations, preparation of businesspland of coopertaives, capacity building of TEASEC staff. Technical service delivery was provided on Code of Conduct (SNV support) and tea plantation management (aiming at enhanced production). During 2009 it was realised that there is an increasing demand for organic orthodox tea (international market demand) and a growing need for international organic certification. CoC certified tea includes organic but has not an international recognition. Overall goal of the program will be foremost focus on improving livelihood of orthodox tea farmers through improved organic tea farming technology, institution development support services to the newly established cooperatives, district cooperatives federation and national cooperatives federation so that the quality of green leaf is improved and gets premium price. Objectives in 2010: 1. To collect baseline information necessary for organic farming and certification of tea gardens of individual farmers with internationally recognized organic standard. 2. To educate and disseminate organic tea technology and other technical inputs to the tea farmers. 3. To establish national tea cooperative federation and build their capacity to provide institutional development and other advisory services to their district federations. 4. To continue promotion of CoC activities as directed by HOTPA and increase the number of CoC tea farmers where CoC will be positioned as an ethical “All Fair Nepal Tea, Socially responsible Quality tea from Himalaya”.

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