08te-5281 Small orthodox tea farmers go for cooperatives!
| budget |
€ 149.100,00 |
status |
execution |
| start date |
01-01-2009 |
date end |
31-12-2009 |
| location |
|
country |
nepal |
| financer |
Agriterra |
| executor |
Tea Sector Service Centre |
intervention level |
sub-national |
| Programmes |
| IFAP 03: Enhance capacity of farmers' organisations | work area 03: Internal organisational strengthening (OS) | |
| description |
 Tea Sector Service Centre (TEASEC) is the first organised institution for orthodox tea producing smallholders in the Eastern Himalayan Region in Nepal. The mission of TEASEC is to provide services to the small growers (85% of the tea of this region is produced by them) and enterprises to produce high (...more...) |
| description |
Tea Sector Service Centre (TEASEC) is the first organised institution for orthodox tea producing smallholders in the Eastern Himalayan Region in Nepal. The mission of TEASEC is to provide services to the small growers (85% of the tea of this region is produced by them) and enterprises to produce high quality orthodox tea and to generate sustainable incomes.
SNV Nepal is actively supporting (advisory support) TEASEC in partnership with Agriterra . TEASEC submits a inclusive project proposal to SNV, AGriterr and JICA (third donor for TEASEC), which comes down to:
1. Capacity strengthening of cooperatives, district federations and TEASEC (to be supported by Agriterra)
2) Improved tea cultivation technology delivery to the farmers in Dhankuta and Terhathum to be supported by Agriterra (JICA program is covering such activities in Ilam and Panchthar )
3) Code of Conduct (CoC) implementation in Ilam, Panchthar and Dhankuta to be supported by SNV
4) Support for small tea processor in Ilam, Panchthar, Dhankuta and Terhathum to be supported by SNV
5) SIGE / Special support for Women tea labour and Women tea farmers cooperatives to be supported by SNV (...less...) |
| results & observations |
The 2009 project proposal of TEASC had 4 main objectives.
1. Strengthen local and regional organisations: 48 cooperatives are already formed and few more are in pipeline due to the reason that tea farmers are gradually realising benefits of group business approach and more numbers of farmers are now associating with (...more...) |
| final results & observations |
The 2009 project proposal of TEASC had 4 main objectives.
1. Strengthen local and regional organisations: 48 cooperatives are already formed and few more are in pipeline due to the reason that tea farmers are gradually realising benefits of group business approach and more numbers of farmers are now associating with the cooperatives. 26 co-operatives have business plan with their vision and the long term activities to sustain their organisation. Regular collection of green leaf from their member farmers and its sales, increasing share capital from their members and starting own mini processing units are the few thoughts highlighted in their plan.
District level cooperatives federations are formed as a business organisation in four districts and they are now operated by providing regular services to the cooperatives and farmers. They are now equipped with basic furniture and IT equipment for regular operation. District federations have played a role in raising collective voice in different avenues in favor of tea farmers and due to that, they are successful to increase price of green leaf in a range of Rs. 22 to Rs. 33 depending on the season which was in earlier year 2008 with a range of rs. 18 to Rs. 27. Federations are lobbying with the tea factory for more support services to the tea farmers and so few factories are now collecting green leaf at their own transportation cost from the tea garden of farmers.
2. Sustained technical service delivery: this intervention was focused in Dhankuta and Tehrathum districts where the local tea sector lacks knowledge and technology. In the district, Training of Trainers (ToT) was provided to the lead farmers teaching them technical skills. They are now acting as tea technicians and can provide services to the other farmers. In the district, due to awareness raised through the cooperatives and regular training activities, most of the farmers have understood the importance of organic farming and have been convinced to convert their tea garden into organic. Many farmers have already stopped using chemical and fertilizers. Earlier, farmers in the two districts were involved in tea business only as a hobby, not in a commercial way. But now, due to better returns from this business, they seriously involved in and seeking to exploit the commercial option.
3. Code of Conduct (CoC) program: Four factories are in process of getting the CoC certificate, which are collecting green leaf from 14 cooperatives and 8 groups with total of 1,110 tea farmers. Tea farmers are motivated towards CoC and organic tea farming technology. HOTPA could not drive the CoC program and organic tea farming requires extensive preparation to address challenges that are expected to occur.
4. Supporting small tea processing units: This intervention was planned to implement from SNV support and could not accomplish due to financial constraints. (...less...) |
| specialisms |
| Agriculture (general) | Grass-roots participation | Internal organisational strengthening | |
PROPOSAL
| Agri-agency | Own contribution executor | Other parties | Total requested budget |
|---|
| Agriterra | TEASEC | | |
| € 0,00 + € 0,00 | € 0,00 | € 0,00 | € 0,00 |
Eligibility of the farmers Organisation: Tea Sector Service Centre (TEASEC) is the first organised institution for orthodox tea producing smallholders in the Eastern Himalayan Region in Nepal. The mission of TEASEC is to provide services to the small growers (85% of the tea of this region is produced by them) and enterprises to produce high quality orthodox tea and to generate sustainable incomes. Agriterra is supporting TEASEC since July 2008 with a project contract of about € 25.000.
TEASEC has amended its consititution recently:
1. The Executive Committee comprises 6 institutional member representatives and 5 individual members.
2. During the General Assembly the Institutional members have 3 votes each, and individual members have one vote.
This amendment implies that the District Federations have a majority vote in both decision making bodies.
The 4 District Federation are representing 32 farmers groups, 34 farmers cooperatives 37 small farmer’s groups which al together represent 3.184 small holder tea farmers.
During a mission by LO and PO in November 2008 the current membership structure and organisational structure was assessed and it was concluded that TEASEC should be considered as a farmer-controlled service provider and is thus eligible for as a farmers organisation.
2. Project objectives (inclusive project proposal for all donors -SNV, Agriterra and JICA) is being prepared by TEASEC at present):
1. Capacity strengthening of cooperatives, district federations and TEASEC (to be supported by Agriterra)
2) Improved tea cultivation technology delivery to the farmers in Dhankuta and Terhathum to be supported by Agriterra (JICA program is covering such activities in Ilam and Panchthar )
3) Code of Conduct (CoC) implementation in Ilam, Panchthar and Dhankuta to be supported by SNV
4) Support for small tea processor in Ilam, Panchthar, Dhankuta and Terhathum to be supported by SNV
5) SIGE / Special support for Women tea labour and Women tea farmers cooperatives to be supported by SNV
Specific results and activities are currrently being formulated by TEASEC.
4. Budget:
Agriterra max. € 50.000.
SNV will contribute with € 40.000-45.000 (excl. advisory services)
own contribution TEASEC (marginal) € 2000
JICA: about € 5000
5. Sustainability/cost efficiency: TEASEC is a very young organisation that needs to be further strengthened and position itself firmly within the Tea Sector in Nepal. The active advisory support of SNV Nepal as well as financial and advisory support of Agriterra will be needed in the coming years to further strengthen TEASEC , increase its outreach and expand the membership base and improved service delivery for its members. |
GOALS
