Demand for organic tea increases

by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

The organic tea plantation in Haldummulla

The safety of the planet has never been discussed as today due to the threat on the survival of all inhabitants by climate changes.

The Climate Conference to be held in Copenhagen in December will be a wake up call to all countries and its policymakers to firmly adhere to carbon emission standards.

Agricultural reforms based on good fertilization and manuring methods have not fully established and the modern agri world does not pay regard to best practices for quick results at the expense of an environmental catastrophe.

Agri experts believe that using of organic fertilizer could do no harm to health and the environment. Where as using of chemical fertilizer has brought adverse effects.

Needwood Estate, Haldummulla, owned by Needwood Emmag (Pvt) Ltd. is the world's first certified organic tea plantation in the Uva district catering to the top end organic tea buyers globally.

A supervisor and worker at the Thanamalwila teak plantation.

Originally a British plantation in 1870s Needwood Estate today is a major organic tea exporter to Japan, Australia, Germany, France, UK and USA.

Subsequent to the purchase of the estate in 1968 by the then Chairman Denzil Soza the company commenced organic tea plantation in 1985. With a 100 head cattle farm Needwood commenced vegetable and mushroom cultivation and manufacturing of yoghurt in 2007. The company manufactures 600 tonnes of organic compost a year for its cultivations.

Director, Needwood Emmag (Pvt), Ltd. Ajith Ratnayake said the second factory to manufacture conventional tea was set up in Haldummulla in 2008 and to day the company's market share has grown significantly.

The Haldummulla organic tea factory

"Plans are ahead to set up the third organic green tea factory in Haldummulla shortly with an investment of Rs. 60 million", Ratnayake said. "The manufacture of tea conforms to organic agricultural disciplines imposed by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement in Germany" he said.

The company widened its product portfolio by venturing into commercial teak plantations in Thanamalwila, Embilipitiya and Puttalam.

Ratnayake said, 'the experimental teak plantation of over 1000 trees are now closing on nine years in maturity. The global demand for teak as a hardwood timber has increased'.

Needwood is one of the first companies to build houses for estate employees and has a reputation as a fair trade company that maintains a worker welfare fund.