Report Feasibility study organic bitter tea Cao Bang - Helvetas

Feasibility Study Organic Bitter Tea in Cao Bang: 2007
straw and other materials. During the survey, it was observed in one plot that trees were cut
to plant bitter tea and that the field was burned. (See picture on the right.)
No forest should be cut for bitter tea planting and burning should not be practised.
Available plant material should be composted or used as mulch.
Farmers in The Duc commune of Nguyen Binh district mentioned that in their commune a
lot of land was available for bitter tea planting. The soil in large areas of the commune is
too poor to grow food crops but still suitable for bitter tea. However, it was also noted that
there is now not enough maize in the commune because the land is used for bitter tea. To
compensate for the loss of income from maize farmers now have to go and work sifting soil
in the gold mine.
Two remarks have to be made here. First is that bitter tea planting should not go at the cost
of planting food crops. Although there is no organic standards specifically forbidding this
practices, it is definitely against the spirit of organic production. Therefore, care should be
taken in selecting what land to use for bitter tea planting. Secondly, the river that flows past
the gold mine and through the commune seems very polluted. This river is a major source
for irrigation of the commune. No water samples were taken during the survey but the
water is very muddy and full with soil. Farmers also said that the water is very polluted. If
this water is to be used for irrigating organic bitter tea, it should be tested and not contain
any contaminants in the form of heavy metals, pesticides or other chemicals.
4.3.2. Collecting, yield, timing, etc.
Farmers collect buds by hands regularly during the year. Farmers interviewed said that they
use new bags (bought in the market) to bring the tea to the BTC. There is almost no storage
at the farm since the tea has to be at the processing unit within 24 hours after plucking.
Bags and container used for transporting and storing organic product must be clean or new.
Synthetic fertilizer bags are not allowed.
4.3.3. Biodiversity
Bitter tea is originally a plant from the forest. However, cultivated bitter tea is mostly
grown as a monocrop. Conservation of biodiversity is an important aspect of organic
production, although few regulations have specific rules on how to conserve biodiversity.
However, the IFOAM Basic Standards (which serves as the reference for many national
and private organic standards) requires relevant measures to be taken for the provision and
improvement of biodiversity.
Improving biodiversity should, however,
not only be seen as a requirement for
organic farming alone, but also as
something to enhance the "natural" image of
bitter tea which may be appreciated by a
number of customers. (As already expressed
to the BTC by a Japanese company
interested in buying bitter tea from Cao
Bang.)
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