the small tea co-operative

A visit with grower Gobin Hazarika (left)

The small tea co-operative was founded by Kel Kelly and Peggy Carswell, community development workers from Canada's west coast. 

Up until 2020, they spent several of the winter months living in Assam, India - travelling to various - often remote - locations to offer information, technical assistance and encouragement that helped independent growers cultivate, process and market organically-grown tea on a small-scale basis.   

 

The small tea co-op has worked closely with  Fertile Ground:  East/West Sustainability Network,  a Canadian non-profit organization that helped set up demonstration gardens and training centres in various locations.  In the town of Digboi, members of the local Rotary Club and Fertile Ground were given access to a plot of land owned by the Indian Oil Corporation, and with help from staff, local residents and volunteers, Fertile Ground was involvement in the design and development of  Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa, a 2 acre resource centre, which continues to host visits from people interested in learning about organic farming practices. 

Over the years, hundreds of armers, tea growers, students, agricultural extension staff and people from nearby towns and villages have visited the garden to learn how to make compost, identify and control insect pests and take a more eco-friendly approach to growing crops.

Thanks to the ongoing support provided by the Indian Oil Corporation's Social Responsibility Program and members of the Digboi Rotary Club, the centre continues to provide employment for local staff who maintain the garden, produce and sell a range of organic inputs including vermicompost and effective locally-made formulas. 

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For many years, Fertile Ground has provided opportunities for volunteers from various parts of India, Canada and other locations to learn about Assam and tea cultivation and help out at the garden - including two enthusiastic filmmakers
​from the UK who produced this short video filmed at Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gys6S-pl8Ak