Hill Top Tea Producer Cooperative Society Ltd. is located in Deumai Municipality-3, Paanitar, Ilam, and was officially registered at the Division Cooperative Office, Ilam on the 14th of Mangsir, 2069 B.S. (Register No: 3/659/2069/70). The cooperative currently has 111 active members, including 83 male and 28 female members. Since its establishment, the cooperative has been actively engaged in the collection and sale of green tea leaves, aiming to enhance the income of smallholder tea farmers in the region. It also plays a significant role in encouraging family-based tea farming as a sustainable livelihood option for rural households.
The cooperative is firmly committed to promoting organic tea farming practices. Through various initiatives, it advocates for environmentally friendly and health-conscious cultivation methods, aiming to protect the local ecosystem and deliver quality organic tea to the market. By aligning with the principles of sustainable agriculture, the cooperative is contributing to both community health and environmental conservation. It is affiliated with the Central Tea Cooperative Federation (CTCF) Nepal and the National Tea and Coffee Development Board (NTCDB), which helps to connect to national-level networks and benefit from policy support, technical resources, and market linkage opportunities.
Capacity building is a core focus of the cooperative's work. Over the years, it has provided its members with a wide range of training opportunities, including tea harvesting, pruning, and plucking techniques, which have improved both the quality and quantity of tea production. Members have also received Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) training, ensuring safe working conditions for tea farmers. In addition, the cooperative has organized cooperative management and technical training programs to strengthen institutional governance and enhance members' knowledge of best agricultural practices.
One of the key initiatives undertaken by the cooperative is the mobilization of the Young Enterprise Challenge Fund in coordination with CTCF, Nepal. This fund supports youth engagement in the tea sector by encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship among young farmers. The cooperative regularly participates in workshops, seminars, and training programs organized by CTCF and other national and international organizations. These learning opportunities have empowered members with new skills, boosted morale, and helped the cooperative grow into a dynamic and forward-looking institution committed to the long-term development of the tea farming community in Deumai Municipality.