Tea Producer Cooperative Federation Limited [Panchthar]

Introduction

Panchathar district is a hilly district, east-south bordering Sikkim, Darjeeling and Ilam districts of West Bengal. In this district, farmers have been trying to manage tea plantations since before but could not get success although many farmers have been planting tea on private land. Small Tea Farmers District Association has been formed on Chaitra 16, 2057 to organized to organized tea farming and transform tea farming as permanent sources of income.

In accordance with the objectives of the Small Tea Farmers District Association, many tea cooperative and groups have been formed. After realizing the need for a Tea Producers Cooperative Federation (DTCF) was formed on 20 Aswin 2066 to ensure the rights and to make professional.

DTCF Panchthar has been working for economic and social development of tea farmers through cooperatives within its coverage area. DTCF Panchthar was established to motivate tea farmers for professional tea farming and quality production and to improve the living standard of tea farmers through the marketing support. Likewise, it is established for advocating the tea related issues  to tea production processing and marketing, and continuing dialogues with the local governments, stakeholders and the processing industries in district level.

Vision

Expansion of organic tea cultivation

The basis of professional farmer cooperatives

Mission

To motivate tea farmer for professional and quality organic tea production through cooperatives along with improving the quality of life the tea farmers.

Goal

To promote the life of farmers by integrating tea cooperative organizations into the federation through institutional development, organic tea, quality production, establishment of processing plants, market management and capacity development.

Objective

• To support its member organizations/thematic associations for institutional business and economic development. To support the production of more tea seedlings and market promotion.
• To coordinate cooperation between member organizations/various organizations.
• To provide necessary materials and organizations to its members/associations, and to arrange markets for the products produced by the association.
• To provide services to members/associations, and to provide necessary business and industrial activities to increase the financial capacity of the organization.
• To support its member organizations and thematic organizations for business, economic, technical and social development. In addition, to integrate cooperative organizations into the district cooperative association.
• To create a group of tea-linked cooperative organizations for change.
• To implement the Code of Conduct (CRC) in its member tea farms and encourage the production of green products in accordance with international standards.
• To strengthen member organizations/associations and establish tea processing factories to increase security.
• To support the poor group population producing orthodox tea that does not meet the objectives and work of cooperatives, government cooperatives, NGOs and international NGOs.
• To download tea technical products. To support the industrialization of tea farming.
• To support the conservation of the natural environment through tea farming.
• To support the tourism industry.

At present, 14 primary tea producer cooperatives are affiliated to this association.