Es 2003 Sustainable Tea Good Agricultural Practice

8/16/2019 Es 2003 Sustainable Tea Good Agricultural Practice

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SUSTAINABLE TEA

Good Agricultural Practice Guidelines u


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NoteThis do cument h a s be en d iscussed w ith the memb ers of t he UnileverSusta ina ble Agricultu re Advisory Boa rd (SAAB). The SAAB is a g roupof individua ls, specialists in a g ricultura l practices or represent a tives ofno n-g overnmen ta l org a nisa tions (NGOs), wh o ha ve expertise indiffe rent a spects of susta inab ility. They ha ve a g reed to critica lly a ssistUnilever in the evolution of Sustainable Agriculture indicators andgo od practices for a rang e of raw ma terial crops. The content s of this

do cument and the choices made he rein a re, how ever, theresponsibility of Unilever only.

Contents

Int ro d uct io n > 01

1. So il Fert ilit y > 02

2. So il Lo ss > 04

3. Nut rient s > 06

4. Pest Ma na g ement > 08

5. Bio d iversit y > 10

6. Pro d uct Va lue > 12

7. Energ y > 13

8. Wa t er > 14

9. Socia l a nd Huma n Ca pita l > 15

10. Lo ca l Eco no my > 16

Bib lio g ra phy >17

Front Cover Design: Mon ta ge o f Phot os from Tea Estates


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> 01Introduction

This g uide ha s be en d eveloped und er the UnileverSustainable Agriculture Initiative to support sustainablema na gem ent practices for t ea production. Ten indicat orsof susta inabili ty have b een identif ied, ea ch w ith specificgo od ag ricultural practice recommen da tions:

• So il Fert ilit y • So il Loss• Nut rient s • Pest Ma na g ement• Bio d iversit y • Pro d uct Va lue• Energ y • Wa ter• Socia l and Human Cap it a l • Loca l Economy.

Areas of pot ential opportunity for improvement h avealso been ident if ied.

The development of these g ood ag ricultural practiceguidelines has been based upon a thorough evaluationof poten tial ag ronomic practices and associat ed inputs.They ha ve been produced in consulta t ion w ith relevantscientists and specialists, including memb ers of a UnileverSustainable Agriculture Advisory Board (SAAB).

This g uide is prima rily int end ed f or use by te a esta tesan d fa rmers w ith relat ively sophist icat ed ag riculturalma na g eme nt system s in pla ce. There is a com plement a ryg uide ta rge ted at smallholder fa rmers. There is a lso acompanion bo oklet " Tea : A Popular Beverag e - Journeyto a Susta inable Future" providing ba ckground t o ourapproa ch to susta inable ag riculture for tea , and includingexamples of improvement program mes on our tea estate s.These pub licat ions are listed in the bibliogra phy.

Contributions to the " continuous improvement" of theseguidelines are w elcome a nd can be sent t o us via ema il:[email protected] .

Top>Steep tea field viewed from a riparian strip of native plant species

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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> 02

Good Practice

Organic Matter• Reta in tea prunings in the f ie ld . Provide a lte rna te

sources of f irew ood to d iscourag e the use ofprunings for fuel.

• Manage shade t r ee s t o con t ribu t e t o o rgan i c ma t t e r(leaf fall and prunings).

• Add orga nic mat ter on pruned f ie lds where it i svery low (vermicompo st, man ure, plant litt er),ta king a ccount of t he ben efi ts of d ifferent sourcesin respect o f nut rient s, micro-org an isms andw at er re tent ion .

• Consider soil rehabil ita t ion w ith a prior crop(Gua tema la gra ss, legumes) in areas designa ted for

tea planting and for 2 years before replanting.• Minimise the per iod o f t ime when t here is no

ground cover.

1. Soil Fertility

Soil organic matter is importa nt for ma inta ining soil hea lth an d soilstructure, reducing soil loss a nd increasing nut rient a nd w a ter useefficiency. Org a nic ma tt er levels shou ld be ma inta ined a t, orimproved to , a sa tisfa ctory eq uilibrium level for the pa rticular soiltype. The org a nic ma tt er w ill derive from clea red veget a tion in new plant ings and leaf f a ll, pruning s a nd m ulches in ma ture fields. Longterm d et eriora tion in soil structure a nd f ertility ma y result fromcompaction , particula rly unde r mecha nisa tion, from chang es in soilpH , or from b uild-up of salinity , a p ossible side e ffe ct of irriga tion.

Top> Tea bushes are pruned every four years. Prunings are left to provideground cover and enhance soil organic matter

Soil Compaction• Soi l compact ion can lead to w ater-logg ing

and poo r plant g rowth d ue to de ter iora t ionin soil structure.

• Soi l compact ion i s not an impor tant i ssuefor tea, except where wheeled mechanisedharvesters are in use. Compaction shouldbe m onitored in such a reas.

• The use of hea vy machinery during landpreparat ion, especially when the soil is we t,should be a voided .

• Ma in t a in p lan t cove r on unpaved pa th s andt rac tor w ays.


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> 03

> Mechanical harvesters require carefuloperation to avoid detrimental soilcompaction

> Prunings left to build up organic matter andmaintain ground cover

> Prunings from young tea left as mulch toconserve moisture and control weeds

> Low organic matter levels are improved byusing vermicompost, manure or plant litter onpruned fields. Vermicompost is compostproduced using worms to promote a morerapid breakdown and enhanced mix

Soil pH and Salinity• Tea requi res a pH betw een 4 and 5 .5 for

g o o d g r o w t h .

• Do not p lant f ie lds wi th pH above 5 .5. Smal l a reasof high pH soil (e.g . ‘hut-sites’) should b e plan tedw ith high-pH toleran t clones in a larg e plant ingho le (25cm x 40cm) with sulphur a t t he ra te of 60gper hole. Hut sites may b e indicat ed b y young teaplants show ing stunted grow th, crinkled lea ves an dba lling of the roo ts.

• Diag nos is of su itab le condit ions for p lant ing can b ecomplemented by observation of adjacent tea f ieldshaving healthy tea, and the presence of indicator

plant s such as Bracken fe rns ( Pteridium aquilinum) ,But ton w eed (Borreria princeae) and Kikuyu grass(Pennisetum clandestinum) .

• If soils become to o a cidic (below pH 4), apply limeat the t ime of pruning, using go od q uality dolomiticl ime if a vailab le. Recommended rates should beob ta ined from local resea rch/a dvisory services.

• Irrigat ion is unlikely to lea d t o salinity build upprovided t ha t to ta l an nual precipita t ion exceedsevapot ranspiration. The follow ing should b emoni tored:

- The w ater ta b le leve l,

- Tota l Rainfa ll + Irrigat ion – Evapot ranspirationto ensure tha t there is ne t do w nw ard movementof w at er over the full year,

- The q ual ity of ir riga t ion w ater to avoid s itua t ionsof high sodium build-up which might adverselyaffec t crop growt h .

Potential Areas For Improvement• Review soi l compact ion levels on the fa rm, and

develop action plans for mana ging vulnerab le area s(e.g. l imiting vehicle mo vements in area s w ith w etfra g ile soils).

• Review plan ting a nd replanting cri teria. Are exist ing

org a nic mat ter levels sufficient? Is the soil pH w ithinthe ra nge (pH 4 to 5.5) for g ood tea estab lishmentand susta inable grow th?

• Reduce longer-te rm degrada t ion by provid ing w ell-formed, w ell-drained a nd stab le tracks and road s(gra ss, murram or ta rmac depend an t upon intensityof use).

• The soil is a complex living environment a nd t heinfluence of g round veget at ion, bioma ss return,pesticide a nd f ertiliser use o n its hea lth req uirefurther research. Methods of mo nitoring a ndmea suring soil hea lth have to be d eveloped .


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> 04

Soil erosion can be high in the tropics, if s teps are not ta ken tocont rol it . Most importa nt is to m ainta in some ground covervegeta tion. Plan ting perennial crops, such a s tea, should lead toless ground disturba nce and more permanent cover tha n w ithannual crops. Nevertheless heavy rainfall can still result in higherosion rat es w here soil is exposed a nd specific erosion cont rolmeasures should be taken in vulnerable areas. Demand for topsoil for nursery use can result in deg rada tion of extraction area s.

2. Soil Loss

Good Practice

Soil Erosion• Plant a long the contours if the land s lopes

sig nifican tly. This is pa rticularly impo rta nt o n a llslopes > 25 deg rees, w here the ad dit ional use of asingle row of Napier grass, aft er every ten row s oftea , can supplement contour planting. Napier grasscan a lso b e slashed f or mulch or fo r fod der.

• Construct silt pits (or micro-cat chment s) in new lyplanted area s, w ha tever the slope, to arrest run-offan d encourag e w at er retent ion. The design a ndconstruction o f pits must t ake f ield safety intoconsideration an d the pits must be ma intained.

• Carry out environmenta l impact assessment a nddiscourage the use o f me chanical ha rvestingma chines in a ll area s w here soil erosion is likelyto be severe.

Top> Maintenance of complete ground cover, including the planting ofgrasses along field boundaries and main drains, is essential toreducing water run-off and associated soil erosion

• Pay ca re ful a t t en t i on t o d r a in de sign a ndmaintenance. Lock and spill over drains, boundarydrains and stone revetmen ts are a dvisable,w herever practical. A dra in cut a cross the slopew ill have low er flow velocity resulting in lesserosion. Soil drains should b e plant ed w ith suita blegra sses or other cover to hold the ground firm,but this cover must b e ma intained t o ensureadeq ua t e f low.

• Ground cover plan tings (e.g. Nilgri da isy, yellow daisy, Citronella ) along field edg es can significant lyreduce erosion.


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> 05

> Small pits (micro-catchments) will reducerun-off, conserving water and soil in youngtea areas

> Maintaining forest on steeper slopes is goodsoil conservation practice

> Good ground cover within tea fields andsurrounding areas is essential to reduceerosion on steep slopes

> Inadequate soil conservation measures,including ground cover planting, can leadto severe soil erosion

Ground Cover• Plan t a cover crop as early as possible aft er clearing.

Broadcast oa ts as soo n as lan d preparat ion iscomplete a nd/or choose a suitab le loca l a lterna tivesuch a s bean s, f inger millet or ma ize wh ich can beslashed be fore f low ering a nd used for fodd er.

Top Soil Use For Nursery• Top soil should b e sourced to a void d egrada t ion

of extraction areas.

• Tradit ionally, fo rest soil w as used f or nurseries.Nursery soil should be ta ken from the area s to b eplanted , so t ha t t he soil is returned t o t he f ield

during planting.

Potential Areas For Improvement• Invest iga te the p lant ing of legumes as a ground

cover in young t ea , instead o f oa ts. Mimosa a ndho rse g ram a re po ssibilities.

• Review the length of the pruning cycle to reduce thefrequency of soil exposure. In areas very favourablefor b ush g row th ha rd plucking could l imit ta ble r iseto the e xtent th at f ields can be plucked for f iveyears rat her tha n th e conventional fo ur. Howe ver,th is practice w ill not b e susta inab le in some clima ticzones, where i t may lead t o q uality decline and

increa ses in pests an d d isea ses such a s Helopeltis ,Shot Hole Borer, Mites a nd Thorny Ste m Blig ht.• Extend t he use of tea prunings to cover a l l bare so ils

that could be liable to significant erosion (see also‘Soil orga nic ma tt er ’ - pa g e 02). Other suitab lemulches should also be used if available.

• Explore a lterna tives fo r using less soil in the nursery,in bag s and f or rooting cutt ings, including the useof renew ab le root ing media instea d o f soil /sand.

> Legumes planted in young tea areas toprovide ground cover and nitrogen


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> 06

Good Practice

Ratio Of Exports To Inputs• Take a dvice from local research centres on o ptimal

nut rient b a lance. The nut rient use eff iciency tha t canbe achieved w ill vary w ith a pplicat ion rate , soil type,soil depth, slope, t emperat ure and climate.

• Low y ie ld o f g r een lea f ma y ind ica t e i nadequa t efert iliser a pplication .

• Dark green , f leshy and succulent shoots throughoutthe plucking table may indicate excess applicationof nitrog en (N).

• In Kenya, a bout 80% efficiency of input use cannormally be achieved by keeping NPKS (22:12:6:5)application a t a n a nnua l average of 150 kg N/Ha.

• In o ther a reas it ma y be necessary to use d ifferentfert iliser input s, w ith con seque nt impa ct oneff iciency, t o a chieve e conom ic susta inab ility.

Economic sustainability requires the use of fertilisers on most soilsbut , idea lly, total nutrient inputs (including tho se f rom soilmineralisation and compost imported) should be very similar to thenutrients exported in t he ha rvested product plus that sto red in thegro und veget a tion, soil a nd tea bioma ss. To a chieve th is, loss ofnutrients in wastes (in water or by volatilisation) and at replantingmust be m inimised. Losses of nitra te a nd p hospha te by surfa ce runoff a nd to ground w a ter, and pho sphat e loss throug h sedimenterosion must b e a voided. The proportion of nitrogen (N) input frombiological fixation sho uld b e m a ximised. Appropriate micronut rienta dd itions w ill enha nce th e eff iciency of use o f Nitrog en (N),Phosphorus (P) a nd Pot a ssium (K) as w ell a s meeting th emicronutrient needs of the crop.

3. Nutrients

Top> Leguminous trees provide shade, nitrogen and organicmatter from leaf fall on a tea estate in Assam

Nitrogen (N) Input From Biological Fixation• If shad e t rees a re p lanted , use leguminous

species. How ever, app ropriate precaut ions w illbe required to avoid shad e t ree contaminat ionof green leaf d uring ha rvesting (see also ‘ProductQua lity’ - pag e 12).

Loss of Nitrate and Phosphate by Surface Run Off,Sediment Erosion and to Ground Water

• Ta ke step s to minimise run-off losses by applying

fert i liser at a t ime of yea r wh en hea vy rains areunlikely (see a lso ‘Soil Erosion’ - pa g e 04).


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> Careful measurement of nutrient levels

> Monitoring the environment for nutrient losses

> In field soil sampling to monitor changes inorganic matter and nutrient levels

• Avoid a pplying fert i lisers w ithin 3-4 metres ofw at ercourses.

• Alga l b looms in ponds wi th in the fa rm should beinvestiga ted . Bloo ms indicat e nutrient leakag e tosurfa ce wa ter.

Potential Areas For Improvement• Review nutrient a pplicat ion rat es regularly in

response to calculat ed residua l nutrients in th e soil,and foliar and soil analyses. In particular, takeaccount of nut rients and o rga nic mat ter in the oldstand at replan ting (see a lso pa ge 03). Concentrat ean alyses in the 1st a nd 2nd years of t he pruning

cycle so that NPK rates can be adjusted accordinglyin the 3rd a nd 4th yea rs.

• An y a sh fro m Eucalyptus (or othe r fuelw oo d)or o ld tea p lant s should b e put b ack to fue lwoodplanta tions and no t te a f ields (because ash isa lkaline). This w ill also pro vide f ert iliser sa vingsfor the fue lwoo d crop.

• Investiga te using organic mat ter/compost/bio-fertiliser to reduce the requirement forinorga nic fertiliser a pplicat ions.

• Consider the use of g round rock phosphate (exceptin high pH ‘hut sites’) a nd specifica lly w hen carryingout lan d preparat ion for replant ing. Incorporat ionof rock phosphat e w ill reduce subsequent relianceon soluble P fertiliser wh ich ma y sig nifica ntly leachinto the w at er courses.

• Invest iga te a reas w here h igh fer t iliser appl ica t ionra tes have been adopted a s a s tanda rd toundersta nd t he reasons and pot ent ia l forsignificant reduction.

> Top soil sampling for laboratory analysis


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> 08

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the key to susta ina ble pe stcontrol. The ob jective is to a do pt cultura l, biolog ica l, mechanical,physical or ot her less-ha za rdous strat eg ies to minimise t he use o fpesticides. IPM is th erefo re th e caref ul considera tion of a ll th eseava ilab le pest control techniques and their subsequent integ rateduse t o improve b iolog ica l ba lance. This shou ld discourag e t hedevelopment of pest populations whilst keeping pesticide use andot her inte rvent ions to e cono mic levels, an d w ill also m inimise risksto hea lth a nd the environment .

Good Practice

Arthropod Pests and Fungal Diseases• Local esta te f ield manua ls must include det ailed

methodo logies for mana gement of the pestsan d diseases in the area w ith emphasis oncultura l cont rols.

• P rocedu re s and p ro toco ls t ha t manda t e goodsupervision m ust b e in place.

• In East Africa th e use of insecticides, acaricides andfung icides on ma ture tea should be a voided exceptin very except iona l circumsta nces. Disease a nd insectproblems should not be sign ificant a nd w ell grow ntea w ill almost alw ays outg row short-terminfesta t ions, such as red spider mite, w ithout theneed for pesticide application.

4. Pest Management

Top> Hand pollination - plant breeding programmes include thedevelopment of more pest/disease resistant varieties

• Chemical application ma y kill na tural enemies ofpests an d a llow an e pidemic to d evelop a nd henceshould only be used w here unavoidab le and in thecontext of a w ell manag ed IPM programme.

• Key requirements for an IPM system include:- No prophylactic use of pesticide s .

- Routine cultural controls (such a s destructionof b reeding sites and mainta in ing go odground cover).

- Development of census systems for the ma inpests, found ed o n know ledge o f l ife cycles and

na tural enemies.- Establishment of a ction thresholds for the main

pests, ba sed on e conomic da mag e levels.

- If pesticide use is necessa ry, selectivity isimportant to reduce eco-ba lan ce disruptionan d ensure operat or saf ety.


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Pesticide Use• PESTICIDES MUSTNOTBE USED if w orkers a re no t

trained, proper use procedures are not in place o rappropriate a pplicat ion equipment a nd protectiveclothing is not ava ilab le.

• Pesticides used should be restr icted to tho serecommen ded by na tiona l tea research insti tutesan d fo rmally approved for the purpose undernational regulations.

• Pest icides should be se lec ted w ith rega rd toterrestrial and aquatic ecosystem toxicity, toreduce the r isk to o perato rs and the e nvironment.Mana gement must b e a ble to just i fy the use of

each pesticide.• Purchasing decisions for pesticides should ta ke

account o f q uality ( low cost g enerics ma y conta into xic by-products), an d t he q uant i ty ordered mustnot exceed t ha t w hich can be used be fore expiryda tes. Purchase from suppliers wh o w ill ta ke ba ckempty containers for proper disposal.

• Pesticides must be stored safe ly and securely and useprocedures, including a ction t o b e ta ken in th e caseof spil lag e a ccidents, clearly def ined a nd enfo rced.

• Spray equipment must be designed a nd mainta inedto t arg et th e application effectively and use theminimum of chemical to achieve the desiredout come. It is importa nt t o minimise spray-drift,especia lly wh ere w a tercourses could becontaminated or near to a ccommoda t ion .

• Accurate records must be kept of pe sticide use.

• There must be carefu l a t t en t ion to opera tor safe t y :

- Training an d retraining,

- Provision of suita ble prote ctive clothing w ithregular checking an d replacement,

- Persona l w ashing facil it ies must be availab le an dused a ft er w orking w ith pesticides. All clot hingand equipment must be appropriatelyw a shed/clea ned ,

- Rout ine hea l th checks for opera tors andappropriat e mea sures in place fo r f irst aid a ndpoisoning incidents, including access to antidotes.

> Spot spraying with proper targeting ofweeds requires access to appropriateherbicides, application equipment,protective clothing and training

> Thorny Stem Blight - bio controlexperiment. Studying the predisposingfactors for disease development, andthe life cycles and natural enemies ofthe main pests, are key parts of anIntegrated Pest Management system

Weed Control• Ensure t ha t ecologica l ly and medica l ly safe

compounds are used, applied in a ccorda nce withindustry and advisory service best practice andusing low volume spraying m etho ds.

• To a chieve susta inable w eed cont ro l and reducethe risk of de veloping herbicide resista nce,a p lanned prog ramme of chang ing ac t iveingredients ma y be introduced.

• Ult ra low volume or s imilar technolog y shouldbe used t o m inimise d ischarg e chemical levels.

• Spo t sp ray ing w ith p rope r t a rge t i ng o f t hew eeds should be practised.

• Ado pt cost-effective mechan ical cont rol metho ds,including t he use of mulches, in preference toherbicide use.

• Manua l w eed managemen t is r ecommendedfor smallholdings witho ut a ccess to appropriateherbicides, a pplicat ion eq uipment andprotective clothing.

Potential Areas For Improvement• Promote research o n b io-cont ro l ag ents (preda tors,

pa rasites, bio-fung icides, pheromo nes) as IPM to ols.Where research f inding s are en courag ing,

incorporat e th eir systems into ma nag ement practicesan d evaluat e the ir effectiveness an d consequencesfor pest ma nag ement a nd the w ider environment .

• If w eeds are a problem in mature tea , cons iderw het her th is is a result o f pruning policy. A long erpruning cycle, o r a t aller pruning heig ht, results inless l ight penetra t ion throug h the te a crop and t husless w eed s (see a lso pa g e 05).

• Avoid skiffing except where the practice has aspecific benefit to the business as, for example,a be t te r ba lance be tw een qua lity and q uant i tyin Ind ia.

• Use manua l weed con t ro l w i th in t he c rop .


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Maintenance o f genetically diverse germplasm of the crop isessential for the crop to meet chang ing needs of the future.Conservation of biodiversity in the esta te a nd its surroun ding s isimporta nt , pa rt icularly where estat es are located in a reas of highconservation value.

Biodiversity Within and Around the Estate• Enhance the fa rm environment for loca lly impor tant ,

rare or end an gered species by providing a ppropriat eha bitat s and a dopt ing the r ight cultural practices,including avoiding pesticide da mag e to benef icialf lo r a and f auna .

• Be fo re any ext ension o f t he p lan t ed a rea , a fu llenvironmental impact assessment should be carriedout and recommendations subsequently followed. Afull assessment is not a ppropriat e fo r area s Wildlife habitats should be linked wherever possible using Riparianstrips and wildlife corridors composed of native species

Good Practice

Crop Genetic Diversity• Ensure tha t company breeding programmes include

conservat ion progra mmes for know n seedlingorigins/ja ts. For exa mple, w here o ld fields are duefor uproot ing a nd replanting, consider leaving asmall area (50 to 100 bushes) to ensure conserva tionof land races.

• Support a nd/or part icipate in industry efforts toconserve germplasm.

• Access an d contribute a s much as possible to t henational gene bank programmes as, for example,held b y the Tea Resea rch Foun da tion o f Kenya,a nd Tocklai a nd UPASI in India .


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> Arboreta can be established to conservea greater range of species and provide anopportunity for education and recreation

> A combination of forest and riverineconservation areas within a tea estate

> Planting of indigenous tree species in vacantland to promote biodiversity in estates

> Forest conservation is critical tomanagement of water catchment areas

> Community programmes to plantindigenous trees at hospitals, schools,housing areas and in open spaces

• Encourage t he conservat ion of na t ive forests andtree planting in areas that have been convertedfrom fo rest . Empha sis should b e on planting o fna tive t ree species in a ma nner tha t mimics thena tural fo rest m osaics. Also plan t t rees that canbe used to control pests (for example Neem)w here possible.

• Only purchase fue lw ood f rom commercia l ,renewable plantations or from farmer groupstha t ha ve esta blished commercial w ood lots.

• Encourage individual fa rmers and farmer groupsto p lant w oodlots tha t w ill produce appropria t efirew ood , w hile ma intaining a d iversi ty of

na tive tree species.

Potential Areas For Improvement• Clea rly esta blish the econom ics of cult ivat ion of

ma rgina l area s (steep slopes, sha llow soils, high p Harea s, poorly drained land ) an d convert those w hichare not profi tab le to w ildlife reserves.

• Work wi th in terna t ional a nd loca l in it ia t ives toencoura g e b iodiversity, minimise use o f ecot oxicpesticides, put in place IPM (pag e 08) an d a do ptconservat ion me asures for rare or end ang eredspecies tha t use the farm a s a ha bitat .

• Co-opera te w ith na t ional museums and b iodiversityresea rch prog rammes to assess an d d ocumentbiodiversi ty of esta tes and surround ing a reas.

• Jo in effor t s on a b roader (‘ land scape’) sca le toconside r area s of f orest, or similar reserve, w hichmay be needed to support stable populations ofdesirable species. Achieving larger reserves tosupport b iodiversity w ill usua lly req uire w orkingw ith ot her estat es/land ow ners and publicsector bodies.


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Susta inab le ag riculture must be profitable . On the o utput side, this w illinvolve producing the o ptimum amo unt o f high quality product perunit a rea, minimising costs/w a ste a nd a dd ing va lue w herever possible.Consumer concerns abo ut foo d saf ety, environmenta l performancea nd socia l respon sibility must b e sat isfied.

6. Product Value

Top> Timely harvest supports the production of quality tea

> Grading according tofactory specifications andquality standards

> Tea tasters evaluating teasfor auction

> Plant breeding programmes toimprove quality and yield

Good Practice

Profitability• Opt imise y ie ld , ta k ing in to account safe ty, qual ity

and costs, to maximise margins.

• Harvesting e fficiency, the choice of ha rvestingstand ards and the appl ica t ion of GoodManufacturing Practices in primary tea processingare importa nt for ma ximising product va lue.

• If semi-mechanical or mechanical ha rvesting isad opte d, ensure tha t product qua lity is not

neg at ively impacted.Product Quality

• Fie ld ha rvest ing and leaf t ranspor t should beoptimised to ensure a l l harvested leaf is accepta blefor tea ma nufac ture .

• Foreign mat ter, including leaves from shad e,w ind-breaks and Eucalyptus trees, should neverbe present in harvested lea f.

• Unacceptable pest icide residues should never bepresent in harvested leaf.

• Factory systems need to ensure tha t h igh q ual itytea, free from over-firing, under-firing or taint is

produced a ll the t ime.• All tea products must be w ith in lega l or t rade

stand ard l imits for microbial conta mination, a nd f reefrom hea vy metals, significant fo reign bod ies an dan y substa nces potential ly ha rmful to consumers.

Potential Areas For Improvement

• Increase the va lue by developing productsspecifica lly f or high-va lue ma rkets.

• Systema tically ad dress custo mer/consumercomplaints or concerns, and strive for continuousimprovement in product q uali ty that w ill givecompeti t ive adva nta ge. For the o ut-grow er, thefa ctory should b e seen a s the custome r.

• Plant b reeding needs to cont inue in order todevelop highly efficient, high value plantingmaterial for the future.


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The efficient use of renewable resources should be t arg eted since th euse of non -renew a ble sources, such a s fossil fuel, is not sustaina ble inthe long t erm. Greenhouse gases a n d polluting gaseous emissionsmust b e m inimised.

7. Energy

> Moisture reductionthrough storage underUV polythene hasachieved 30%

improved fuelwoodenergy efficiency

> Hydroelectric plantscan provide a significantproportion of thepower requirementsfor estates with accessto suitable rivers

> Windmill renewableenergy initiative forpumping domesticwater

Left> Productive fuelwood plantations have an important role toplay in building self-sufficiency in renewable energy resource

Good Practice

Efficiency and the Use of Renewable Resources• Use f irewoo d as a fue l for dry ing to reduce non-

renew a ble fossil fue l consumption. All fuelw oo dmust be derived from sustainable sources.

• Boiler and fa ctory efficiency should be optimised.Invest in more efficient boilers if necessary.

• Biofuels der ived f rom w aste (e .g . b io-br iquet t esan d suga rcan e ba ga sse) should be consideredto supplement fuelwood use.

• Sma ller farms should seek to d evelop co-operat ivefuelw ood grow ing schemes g iven the i r ow n land-holding constraints.

• Where susta inab le fue lwo od sources are l imited ,al terna tives should be investiga ted to avoidextraction from native forest reserves.

• Use of fossi l fuel for pow er generat ion, vehicles,irr iga tion eng ines and fa ctory sta rt-up shouldbe minimised.

• Where practical , develop hydro-electricity or w ind-pow er schemes to support pow er needs.

• Monitor fue l inputs and met er a ll pow er out le tsto minimise misuse or w asta ge of po w er.

• Tea bush prunings should be left a s a mulch in thefield a nd n ever used for fuel .

Greenhouse Gas Emissions• Minimise fossi l fuel consumption and h ence

CO2 emissions.

• Nitrous oxide is produced from a nae robic soils,

especia lly a ft er a dd ing N fertilisers. Applica tionsof n itrog en (N) should be review ed ca refully forareas wi th h igh w at er tab les.

Polluting Gaseous Emissions• Instal l scrubbers in fa ctory chimneys.

• Avoid use of f ertilisers w hich can ea sily volat ilise,such as urea. Urea volatilises into ammonia whichis oxidised in the a tmo sphere to nitric a cid,a component o f a c id ra in .

• If i t is not e conomically susta inable to el iminateurea, find ways to reduce volatile loss, such as neemcoate d urea, pellets and t iming of a pplicat ion.

Potential Areas For Improvement• U t ilise human wa st e t o g ene ra t e b iogas a s

a source of fue l.

> Reduce fueluse with careful

planning andmanagement ofthe logistics ofharvesting and leaftransportation, andby keeping vehicleswell maintained


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Potential Areas For Improvement

• Invest iga te d i fferences in process wa ter use be t w eenfa ctories, and implement best practice o n processwater uti l i ty and handling of factory effluents.

8. Water

> Routine watersampling tomonitor qualityand ensure thatthere is noadverse impactof tea growingoperations uponthe localenvironment

> Maintain watercatchments andensure any waterharvested is notat the expenseof other usersdownstream

Top> Natural vegetation plays a crucial role in maintaining watercoursesand supporting associated wildlife

Good Practice

Irrigation• Where practical , use drip irrigat ion rat her than

sprinkler, for econom y of w a ter use.

• Monitor the qual ity of ir riga t ion wa ter. Water tha tis harvested from agricultural or industrial areasma y have effe cts on soil nutrient retention a ndrelease eq uilibria . There ma y also be to xic effectsfrom polluta nts.

• Apply irr iga tion w here i t is most cost-efficient to

do so . It ma y be be t te r to apply more wa ter to asmaller area to achieve ma ximum return oncapital and lab our.

Factory Process Water• Minimise fa ctory process wa ter use (e.g. recycling

steam condensate, dry clean ing o f f actory l ines).

• Do no t d ischa rge un t rea t ed f ac to ry e f f luen tinto w at ercourses.

Water Harvesting and the Sustainability of Water Supply• Ensu re t ha t any w a te r ha rvest ing i s no t a t t he

expense of o ther users dow nstream.

• Mainta in in-f ie ld dams and w ater ca tchments.

• Build ings w ith appropr ia t e roof ing can feed w aterta nks to collect ra in w at er for d omestic use. Larg erbuildings, such as factories, should also enhanceha rvesting o f rainw at er for san itat ion use.

• Ensure tha t re fue lling and lubr ica t ion o pera t ions forpumping eq uipment d o not pollute w at ercourses.

Wa te r may b e used fo r irriga tion a nd is also used in fa ctories.The volume used and the use of sustainable sources need to beconsidered, to get her w ith preventing poten tial pollution fromfa cto ry effluent or discharge from fa ctory w ashdow ns.


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> 159. Social and HumanCapital

Good relationships w ith t he w orkforce, local commun ity, suppliers,customers and Government are vital for long-term sustainability of anybusiness. Healthy, well-educated people are a ssets to g row ers a nd vita lfor the susta ina ble development of t he na tion.

> Tea companies can ensure that the workforce and their families areprovided with good standards of housing, healthcare and education

Top> Crèche facilities should be provided for children of employees

> Familyaccommodationfor employees ona tea estate inSouthern India

Good Practice

Relationships• Terms and condit ions should be such tha t the

turnover rate amongst permanent employees andseasonal labour is low enough to ensure skill levelsare ma inta ined .

• Ensure employee grievance procedures are fa ir an dtha t employees are confident to use them shouldthe ne ed a rise.

• Be a g oo d custome r, ci t izen a nd supplier - pay

and supply on t ime a nd a t t he a greed pr ice .• Group toge the r w ith o the r f a rmers t o ob t a in bu lk

discounts and joint transport for inputs such asfertiliser or safety equipment. Farmer groups willalso f ind it ea sier tha n individuals to ga ther a ndshare informat ion on subsidies, ta x benef i ts,ag ronomic and hea lth benef i t s and to lobbyfor infrastructure improvements.

• Mainta in good re la t ionships w ith loca l Governmentan d ot hers in the local community w ho use theland f or am enity or tradit ional purposes.

• Delibera te ly enhance/market t he company imagein the eyes of t hird pa rt ies to streng then t he

orga nisat ion’s relat ionship w ith bot h the communityand Government .

Human Capital• Ensure tha t w orkers an d the ir fa milies ha ve access

to medical and educat ional fa cil it ies. Encouragesocial program mes that enha nce li teracy an d hea lth(e.g. clea n w at er provision, vaccina tion programm es,nutrit ion informa tion, HIV aw areness, help w ithdisabilities, advantages of small families etc.).

• HIV/AIDS educat ion and prevention should be highon the ag enda for both esta tes and smal lholders.

• Provide t ra ining oppor tunit ies for employees andfa rmer groups in key a spects of t he t ea business.

Potential Areas For Improvement• Farmer groups and la rger esta tes may cons ider

developing pa rtnerships w ith Government to ad dressshared threats and to support public services.

• Estates should d evelop l inks to sma llholders(out-grow ers) with a view to providingextension support.


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Rural communities are dependent on sustainableloca l ag riculture. Fa rmers can help build a nd susta inthe se commun ities by buying and resourcing locally.

10.Local Economy

> Vegetable cultivation by smallholderfarmers in Assam with assistance suchas seeds, fertilisers and know-howfrom tea companies

> Fish farming in rice fieldsby smallholder farmers inAssam with assistance fromtea companies

Top> Local markets where income earned from teagrowing helps support purchasing power

> Tea estates help establishroads and infrastructure forrural communities

> Tea growing companies host training events for local growers toshare experience and exchange views on good agricultural practice.This leads to local farmers producing more green leaf to a higherstandard in more sustainable ways

Good Practice• Use local suppliers whe rever practical (bea ring

in mind relia bility a nd cost).

• Use local employees as much a s possible.

• Encourage employees to send the i r earn ingsto t heir home a nd fa mily.

Potential Areas For Improvement• Consider w orking w ith loca l communit ies to

develop businesses tha t reduce the need to import

go ods a nd services (for t he f arm o r for employees)from further af ield.

• Work with the Nat ional Tea Bo ards and TeaResearch Institute s to provide g uidelines fo r theeff icient ma nag ement of tea product ion ,ma rketing and processing.


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> 17Bibliography

Other Sustainable Tea Publications from Unilever• Tea: A Popular Beverage - Journey to a Sustainable

Future. Providing fut her background to o ur approachto t ea a nd susta inable ag riculture.

• Sustainable Tea: Good Agricultural Practice for Farmers.A practical guide for the smallholder farmer.

• Sustainable Tea: Methods for Sustainable AgricultureIndicator Assessment. A det ailed technical guide to themethodologies recommended for the measurement ofsusta inab ility indica to rs.

Sustainability Publications from Unilever

• Growing for the Future: Unilever andSusta inab le Agriculture .

• Growing for the Future II: Unilever andSusta inab le Agriculture.

• Fishing for the Future: Unilever’s SustainableFishe ries Initia tive.

• Our Everyday Needs: Unilever’s Water Care Initiative.

• Palm Oil: A Susta inab le Future.

• In Pursuit of the Sustainable Pea: Forum for theFut ure a nd Birds Eye Wa lls (Unilever).

Credits

We w ould l ike to a cknow ledge t he support of t he ma ny contributo rs to this project including the f ollow ing :

Unilever Companies:

Brooke Bond Kenya LimitedBrooke Bo nd Ta nza nia LimitedHindustan Lever LimitedLipt on Tea Supply Limit ed

Other Organisations:

Int erna tiona l Centre fo r Resea rch in Agrof orestry (ICRAF)[htt p://w w w.w orlda gro fo restrycent re.org ]

MS Sw amina tha n Research Found at ion, India[ht tp ://w w w .mssrf.o rg ]

Other Contributors:

Editorial & Production: Silver Dialogue[ht tp ://w w w .silverdialo g ue.co m ]

Photography: Theod ora Sta nning, Ian Neathercoat ,Unilever compa nies

Copies of these boo klets can be o bta ined fromht tp ://w w w .unilever.com or can be requested b y e-mail [email protected] .

For mo re ge neral ba ckground on Unilever an d Susta inabili tyvisit ht tp ://w w w .unilever.com (click link for environment &society)o r visit ht t p://w w w.g row ingforthef uture.com fo r specific info rmat ionon th e Unilever Susta inab le Agriculture Initiative.

http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/http://www.mssrf.org/http://www.mssrf.org/http://www.mssrf.org/http://www.silverdialogue.com/http://www.silverdialogue.com/http://www.silverdialogue.com/http://www.unilever.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.unilever.com/http://www.unilever.com/http://www.growingforthefuture.com/http://www.growingforthefuture.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.silverdialogue.com/http://www.mssrf.org/http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/http://www.growingforthefuture.com/http://www.unilever.com/http://www.unilever.com/


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Es 2003 Sustainable Tea Good Agricultural Practice

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