Introduction
Sugandhit Tea Producers Cooperative Society was established in 2067 B.S. by the 25 tea farmers with the objective of commercializing the tea farmers of Dhankuta Municipality (former Virgau VDC ward No 3) of Dhankuta district. This cooperative is located at Virgau of Dhankuta. Embracing the principles of cooperatives and their basic values and norms, this cooperative is actively working to bring improvements in the living standards of its members, mainly through encouraging tea production, collecting and selling green leaves tea produced by its member, processing and marketing of tea, providing proper training and agricultural equipment required for tea and providing financial and non-financial services.
At present, a total of 33 farmers, including 7 women and 26 men, have taken membership in this cooperative with 7.35 Hector of tea cultivation. This cooperative is affiliated with the District Cooperative Federation Dhankuta, Tea Producers Cooperative Federation Dhankuta, Central Tea Cooperative Federation and National Cooperative Bank.
Vision
For long-term sustainable income, develop and maintain a spirit of cooperation among tea farmers through saving, producing quality tea and developing the community under the cooperative movement.
Mission
To help the members affiliated with the organization in organic tea production, processing, and marketing, to solve various technical problems in tea, and to provide employment opportunities by providing savings and credit and capacity building to the members of the cooperative.
Goal
To promote the economic, social, educational and cultural development of the cooperative and its members by complying with the prevailing laws and regulations within the scope of the organization.
Objectives
- To organize tea farmers in the district into organizations and encourage them to cultivate tea commercially.
- To coordinate with various government and non-government organizations to manage the market of green tea leaves and compete in the national and international trade arena.
- To produce organic tea leaves and take initiatives to identify and solve the problems of tea farmers by enhancing technical knowledge and skills related to organic tea farming.
- To take initiatives to establish processing factories at the farmer level.
- To create public awareness among tea farmers within the scope of the cooperative to produce organic tea and to participate in training, symposiums, seminars, etc.
- To maintain environmental balance by producing organic tea in compliance with the Code of Conduct (COC) currently in force in tea.
Works being carried out by the cooperative
- Saving and credit program.
- Various technical training related to tea cultivation.
- Expansion of the tea plantation.