Small farmers key to India going organic
As India's tea industry seeks to improve sustainability and production methods, small farmers may turn out to be the first ones to enact change and pioneer organic farming practices. While large growers like Unilever and Tata, which together control more than half of the domestic market, announce lofty goals and pilot programs, some small growers are already in the process of adopting organic farming methods. However, this remains an uphill battle in India, partly because of patchy regulation and lack of governmental guidance. The government and the Tea Board of India are under increasing pressure to adopt a pro-active stance to reduce pesticide use and are being supported by outside initiatives, such as Tea 2030, backed by the Ethical Tea Partnership, Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance.