Tackling rural poverty, together

Extract

The Sahyadri Tea Farmers’ Consortium was established to overcome poor market access of small-scale tea farmers. After participatory appraisals with self-help groups that were coordinated by Village Development Councils, the consortium was established, and the Sahyadri Organic Tea Factory, financed by several development partners, opened in 2003. Organic quality standards (FairTrade certification) and the “organic farming cycle"-concept were introduced and various trainig courses offered to the farmers. The farmers now benefit from lower input prices (purchased by the consortium in bulk) and higher market prices that they can use to balance the decreases in yields. Perhaps most important, the farmers are experiencing the power of unity. They now have the strength to compete in the market without being exploited by private factory owners and middlemen.