N Lakshman reports a steady rise in the reptile population in his family-owned Golden Hills tea estate in the Nilgris, finding a natural solution to control rats. NN Nagpal of Tyroon Tea Company in Assam notices the return of birds and bees – that had once become rarity in tea gardens due to heavy use of pesticides – in his plantation.

Golden Hills, Tyroon, Sundarpur Tea Estate in Assam and of Harrison Malayalam Ltd-owned Wentworth Tea Estate in the Nilgiris are the first few recipients of ‘trustea’ certificates for adopting a sustainable model to ensure production growth and high sales realisation. The certification programme, initiated by Tea Board as part of “The India Sustainable Tea Programme,” is aimed at improving the global acceptance of Indian tea by ensuring that the producers are mindful of the environmental, ethical and legal standards.

Jointly funded by The Sustainable Tea Initiative (IDH), Hindustan Unilever and Tata Global Beverages, the programme is implemented by global certification agencies Solidaridad and Ethical Tea Partnership. Rainforest Alliance is a technical advisor to the project aiming to offer Indian producers one common code, a certificate that would be acceptable in all importing nations.

According to Tea Board Chairman, Siddharth, the code will be made mandatory for the Indian tea industry in the future so as to improve the brand image of Indian tea in the global market. He was speaking at an interactive session organised by the Indian Tea Association (ITA) and Trustea in Kolkata on Thrusday. While admitting that it was impossible for all the tea gardens across the country to switch over to organic farming, Siddharth said that producers have to ensure that the minimum pesticide residue guidelines were followed.

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