Report Feasibility study organic bitter tea Cao Bang - Helvetas
Report Feasibility study organic bitter tea Cao Bang - Helvetas Report Feasibility study organic bitter tea Cao Bang - Helvetas
Feasibility Study Organic Bitter Tea in Cao Bang: 2007 In the current nursery a number of chemical inputs are being used. Fungicides are regularly applied to control diseases. Also, a growth hormone is being used to stimulate root formation of the cuttings taken from the "mother" plants. It could not be established whether this hormone was of a synthetic or natural origin. In organic farming natural plant hormones such as gibberellic acid (as long as it is made from the fermentation process without the use of GMOs and has not been fortified with prohibited synthetic substances), indole acetic acid (IAA), and cytokinins are generally allowed as long as they do not contain prohibited synthetic substances (WSDA, 2006). However, gibberellic acid is not allowed under the EU organic standards. 4.2.2. Fertilizers During establishment of the seedlings, most farmer use chemical fertilisers (NPK) and animal manure. The BTC has the following recommendation to the farmers for the planting and establishment of seedlings: Year 1: Apply NPK and manure at planting, followed by a second NPK application later in the year Year 2: Apply NPK two times Year 3: Apply NPK two times From Year 4: Apply NPK one time + weeding The bitter tea project provides the NPK (5-10-3) at a subsidized rate to the farmers during the first year and farmers are expected to buy the fertiliser at the full cost price from the second year onwards. Most farmers interviewed did not continue to apply the NPK when they had to pay it fully themselves and applied manure only. In organic agriculture, synthetic (chemical) fertilisers are not allowed. Organic soil fertility management should include a variety of materials, for example compost, aged animal manure, green manure and possibly additional mineral inputs from natural sources. Mineral fertilizers may only be used as a supplement to other practices implemented to ensure longterm. Compost may be difficult to apply on sloping land but here green manures will be very effective, also to control erosion. Animal manure can only be used when it is aged or hot composted. Ageing and hot composting are normally not used for manure applied in the current bitter tea plantations. Some farmers say that their manure is composted but not by hot composting. In some cases, EM is used in the composting. EM is allowed in organic but not an essential input. 4.2.3. Pesticides Some farmers use insecticides (Trebon, Bassa) to control pests in the bitter tea plantations. Pests targeted were aphids and some kind of leaf rolling caterpillar. Diseases do not seem to pose a problem in the field, but fungicides are regularly applied to control diseases in the nursery. One farmer was observed to have used a herbicide in his bitter tea plantation. In organic agriculture, chemical plant protection chemicals are prohibited. Organic pest and disease management should be based on growing a healthy crop and the application of a variety of preventive measures. In emergency situations, botanicals or biological sprays could be used, for example Bacillus thurengiensis (BT) against caterpillars. - 7 -
4.3. Production Feasibility Study Organic Bitter Tea in Cao Bang: 2007 4.3.1. Field selection and preparation Bitter tea is normally planted as a single crop in a field. Sometimes, maize is grown among the small bitter tea plants during the first year. In cases where other crops are grown in the same field as the organic bitter tea, then these other crops should also be grown organically. Most farmers have also other crops then bitter tea and these normally grow in separate fields. In these other crops (rice, maize, fruit trees, vegetables) farmers commonly use some chemical inputs, such as urea fertilizer and pesticides, although the level of use is not very high. The use of chemicals in these fields could contaminate the organic fields. Bitter tea fields with adjacent rice fields. Use of chemicals in the rice field would pose contamination risk to organic production of the bitter tea. (Picture left at The Duc, Nguyen Binh. Picture right at Nam Tuan, Hoa An.) According to the organic standards, if prohibited substances are used on adjacent fields, the organic field must have a buffer area to prevent chemical contamination. Since most of the bitter tea field observed during the survey are quite large, this requirement should not pose any problems, except that farmers may have to cut down some bitter tea trees that are too close to the field border. Alternatively, farmers could always decide to stop using chemicals also in their other fields. Another important aspect of organic production is the prohibition of parallel production, which means that it is not allowed for a farmer to grow a crop in one field organically and in another field with chemicals. The emphasis is on the field, which means that even when a crop is grown organically but other crops in the same field not, then this plot cannot be considered as organic. Therefore, farmers should not be allowed to convert only part of their bitter tea. If they convert, they should convert all their plots with bitter tea and, where applicable, grow all the crops in those plots organically. Clearing primary forest for organic farming is prohibited as well as the burning of stalks, - 8 -
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4.3. Production<br />
<strong>Feasibility</strong> Study Organic Bitter Tea in <strong>Cao</strong> <strong>Bang</strong>: 2007<br />
4.3.1. Field selection and preparation<br />
Bitter <strong>tea</strong> is normally planted as a single crop in a field. Sometimes, maize is grown among<br />
the small <strong>bitter</strong> <strong>tea</strong> plants during the first year. In cases where other crops are grown in the<br />
same field as the <strong>organic</strong> <strong>bitter</strong> <strong>tea</strong>, then these other crops should also be grown <strong>organic</strong>ally.<br />
Most farmers have also other crops then <strong>bitter</strong> <strong>tea</strong> and these normally grow in separate<br />
fields. In these other crops (rice, maize, fruit trees, vegetables) farmers commonly use some<br />
chemical inputs, such as urea fertilizer and pesticides, although the level of use is not very<br />
high. The use of chemicals in these fields could contaminate the <strong>organic</strong> fields.<br />
Bitter <strong>tea</strong> fields with adjacent rice fields. Use of chemicals in the rice field would pose contamination risk to <strong>organic</strong><br />
production of the <strong>bitter</strong> <strong>tea</strong>. (Picture left at The Duc, Nguyen Binh. Picture right at Nam Tuan, Hoa An.)<br />
According to the <strong>organic</strong> standards, if prohibited substances are used on adjacent fields, the<br />
<strong>organic</strong> field must have a buffer area to prevent chemical contamination. Since most of the<br />
<strong>bitter</strong> <strong>tea</strong> field observed during the survey are quite large, this requirement should not pose<br />
any problems, except that farmers may have to cut down some <strong>bitter</strong> <strong>tea</strong> trees that are too<br />
close to the field border. Alternatively, farmers could always decide to stop using<br />
chemicals also in their other fields.<br />
Another important aspect of <strong>organic</strong> production is the prohibition of parallel production,<br />
which means that it is not allowed for a farmer to grow a crop in one field <strong>organic</strong>ally and<br />
in another field with chemicals. The emphasis is on the field, which means that even when<br />
a crop is grown <strong>organic</strong>ally but other crops in<br />
the same field not, then this plot cannot be<br />
considered as <strong>organic</strong>. Therefore, farmers<br />
should not be allowed to convert only part of<br />
their <strong>bitter</strong> <strong>tea</strong>. If they convert, they should<br />
convert all their plots with <strong>bitter</strong> <strong>tea</strong> and, where<br />
applicable, grow all the crops in those plots<br />
<strong>organic</strong>ally.<br />
Clearing primary forest for <strong>organic</strong> farming is<br />
prohibited as well as the burning of stalks,<br />
- 8 -
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