DARJEELING PROJECT · Darjeeling project, India – Sept 2014 2. PROJECT ACTIVITIES OCT 2013 –...

Darjeeling project, India – Sept 2014 Septembre 2010

DARJEELING PROJECT W E S T B E N G A L , I N D I A P R O G R E S S R E P O R T, S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Darjeeling project, India – Sept 2014

2. PROJECT ACTIVITIES OCT 2013 – AUGUST 2014

3. NEXT STEPS 4. PICTURES

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1. KEY INFORMATION

PROGRESS REPORT WEST BENGAL, INDIA


DARJEELING AGROFORESTRY PROJECT

Context and objectives

MAIN THEMES

KEY INFORMATION SPECIFIC CONTEXT

Ensure the long-term quality and availability of Darjeeling tea by creating a biodynamic ecosystem that brings optimal agricultural conditions for tea production

Favor multi-crops and increase and diversify revenues for farmers

Empower local farmers’ organizations with trainings and field workshops

• Type: Agroforestry / regeneration

• Local partners: TPI cooperative and DLR Prerna NGO

• Participants: Fair trade and Organic tea farmers from Sanjukta Vikas Cooperative

• Status in Sept 2014: 7,500 trees planted

• Potential: 15,000 trees planted by 2015

• Products: Trees

The dense tea monoculture in Darjeeling has led to a declining tea production in the last decade as plantations have cleared hillsides of trees to maximize the acreage of tea bushes, causing the degradation of the ecosystem on which tea production depends. Small-scale tea farmers of Sanjukta Vikas Cooperative have decided to launch an agroforestry project mixing trees and tea in order to secure optimal conditions for long term culture of Darjeeling tea. They will be supported by TPI cooperative and DLR Prerna NGO.

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Climatemitigation

Self sufficiency

Culture

Communityempowerement

Economicdevelopment

Climateadaptation

Agroecology

BiodiversityDARJEELING PROJECT


Darjeeling hills, India

LOCATION

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Nestling in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas lies Darjeeling, the northern most district of the state of West Bengal, India.

Eastern Himalayas is among the world’s ten most critical centers for biodiversity and endemism. Darjeeling is one of the global Biodiversity-hotspots.

Today the green cover is only 41.2% due to rampant legal and illegal felling. Deforestation has led to serious problems of landslides, threatening tea plantations and agricultural yields.

Darjeeling hills


SPECIFIC CONTEXT

History of land use

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1864 – 1957: The area was a part of the

Harrison’s and Mineral Springs English Tea Estate, all villagers were workers. Land is a tea monoculture plantation.

60’s – 80’s: Protestation movements and destruction of the Mineral Spring tea factory. People survived selling tea to neighboring gardens, hand made tea, firewood, timber and charcoal from the garden reserve forest. The reserve forest depleting rapidly, the people started “grabbing the land” and started cultivating traditional food grains.

1996: Villagers got ownerships of the land. Creation of the small farmers cooperative MSSVS (Mineral Spring Sanjukta Vikas Sunstha) with the support of NGO DLR Prerna. Now MSSVS area is an organic and bio-dynamic agriculture

Workers in a monoculture tea plantation, Darjeeling


SPECIFIC CONTEXT

Key figures

The area of Mineral Spring has a population of 12500 people with 11 villages in 3 sectors:

• Dabaipani : 6 villages • Yangkhoo : 2 villages • Harsing : 3 villages

The area is 16 km from Darjeeling city. This is a remote area, people live from the culture of tea, spicy and milk sales on the local market.

The Mineral Spring experience has a great importance for Darjeeling with its unique and fragile socio-ecological system in this Eastern Himalayas, a biodiversity hotspots.

Agricultural model is monoculture farming and damage for environment increase year after year.

Mineral Springs Sanjukta Vikash want to be a social-ecological model for all Darjeeling district. Meeting about plantation with Pur Projet - Board of coop Mineral Spring,

Darjeeling Thursday, August 29th 2014


SPECIFIC CONTEXT

Two critical issues: Deforestation and overuse of chemicals

India exported 225.76 million kg of tea in 2013-14. India is the world's second-biggest tea producer. Among the teas grown in India, Darjeeling tea offers distinctive characteristics of quality and flavor, and also a strong reputation for more than a century.

But the dense tea monoculture in Darjeeling has led to a declining tea production in the last decade as plantations have cleared hillsides of trees to maximize the acreage of tea bushes, causing erosion and a more rapid soil degradation.

In the battle to cut costs, the fertility of the naturally thin soil has further been reduced by overuse of chemicals or washed away by landslides.

Deforestation for tea is destroying the habitat of iconic local species, like the jaguar, and degrade the ecosystem on which tea production depends.

Darjeeling tea plantation


PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Improving environmental and economic living conditions in Mineral Spring

OBJECTIVES

Create a biodynamic ecosystem that brings back optimal agricultural conditions for tea production: soil enrichment, erosion reduction, beneficial biodiversity (pest control), shading, retaining humidity… Hence ensuring the long-term quality and availability of Darjeeling tea;

Favor multi-crops and increase and diversify revenues for farmers, with a better distribution over time through additional short-term revenues from timber, fruit sales on the local market and development of other natural products;

Empower local farmers’ organizations with trainings and field workshops;

Improve food sovereignty and family diet with fruit plantations.

Be a socio-ecological model for other communities and tea plantation in Darjeeling district. Tea Farmer

Yangkhoo Village – Mineral Spring


TPI cooperative and DLR Prerna

LOCAL PARTNERS

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TEA PROMOTERS OF INDIA (TPI) Darjeeling-based family operation that manages seven organic Fair Trade tea gardens. TPI has been a pioneer in bringing environmental and

social reform to the tea industry.

TPI is supporting small tea farmers by helping them gain access to international market and a fair price for their tea.

They promote holistic and sustainable farming practices restoring soil health, with trees, plants & animals reappearing in these areas.

DARJEELING LADENLA ROAD PRERNA (DLR PRERNA) Darjeeling based NGO created in 2001 Their mission is to build sustainable human communities in

the Darjeeling hills by promoting peoples participation, gender equality and living in harmony with the environment.

The team provides technical support on agroecological practices to tea farmers and great passion to work in the Hills.


Small-scale tea farmers from Sanjukta Vikas Cooperative

PARTICIPANTS

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The Sanjukta Vikas Cooperative, was one of the first small farming initiatives in the plantation controlled region of Darjeeling.

The land that cooperative members live on was a tea plantation in the early part of the century but abandoned in the 1950s. The community has since depended mostly upon subsistence farming of corn, millet, potatoes and vegetables.

Today, they are a dairy cooperative of 450 family farmers who also export high quality, organic Fair Trade tea with the technical assistance and training of DLR Prerna, and the processing and marketing assistance of TPI.

They further support the environment with their commitment to farming using biodynamic, organic and permaculture farming techniques.

© Eric Garnier Tea collect day for all farmers of cooperative Mineral Spring

Darjeeling project, India – Sept 2014 11

1. KEY INFORMATION





Environmental context in Mineral Spring

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

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Climate: Continental temperate monsoon climate. The area of Mineral Spring is in a valley and temperature is between 8°in January and 25° in August. Farmers observe warming temperatures year after year. Monsoon is in July and august. Hydrology: There are 2 main rivers in Mineral Spring, Rung Dung Khola and Ghatte Khola. There are a lot of waterfalls on the hills. Soils: The area of Mineral Spring is approximately 600ha with approximately 370ha of tea farming. 370ha are polyculture farming, all grown by producers of the cooperative Mineral Spring. Tea cultivation in monoculture is on the other side of the hill but it’s not cultivated by the cooperative. Ecosystems: The region belongs to the Eastern Himalaya range. This mountainous area is located along the border of Darjeeling and Nepal. The altitude differs from 800m (Rung Dung Khola river) to 1200m (last village on the top of the hill). Biodiversity: In the fringe of Senchel wildlife sanctuary, the area of Mineral Spring is a bio diversity hotspot. A dense vegetation covers the ground and we can find leopards, bears, boars, monkeys, civets, porcupines and rabbits.


PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

Environmental context in Mineral Spring

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Deforestation issues Mineral Spring area Total forest area: actually approximately 150ha (250 ha

in 1960’ years) Part of land area: 30% Forest types: mainly Teak, Cedar, Pine

Current Land use in Mineral Spring villages Uncultivated forest and villages represent 40% Tea farming represent 25 - 29% Other culture (orange, different fruits, vegetables,

spicy): 30%

Tea plantation, Darjeeling hills

Mineral Spring area, Darjeeling hills


PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Activities

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Project summary: 15 000 trees will be planted on the area of

Mineral Spring 11 villages and more than 250 producers

participate to this program The first wave of planting was done in august

2014 with 7500 trees. Total reforestation area: About 250ha (250 farmers participate to the program)

Actions: Planting fruit and timber trees to increase

villagers’ revenue Improving environmental practices in the

village with the establishment of an educational program delivered in the school of Mineral Spring.

Planting medicinal trees for villagers Roll-out: Planting trees: 2 waves of plantation. 1st in august 2014, 7500 trees 2nd in 2015, 7500 trees Training of agroforestry for Mineral Spring

farmers


PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

2014 Activities

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FINALIZING PROJECT STRUCTURE Recording of interested communities and beneficiary farmers Visit of tea farms to identify tea farming best-practices, possible plantation

models, soil and climate types Selection of species based on appropriate combination with tea. Selection

of fruit and timber trees (according to the producers’ interest) to increase additional revenues for families

Design of plantation models Seedlings order and production PREPARATION OF FIRST PLANTATIONS WAVE Finalizing the contract with tree nursery Continuous empowerment of project technician by Pur Projet MONITORING OF FIRST PLANTATION WAVE Plantation of the seedlings by the farmers: land preparation, holes digging,

planting according to the selected model GPS tracking verification Plantations follow-up

APRIL 2014 JUNE 2014

AUG 2014

JULY 2014


PLANTATIONS EXPECTED

3 sectors, 11 villages, 2 waves of plantation

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Project area

SL.NO Sector NAME OF THE HAMLET NO. OF PLANTS 1 HARSING HARSING, DARA GAON 860 2 HARSING HARSING, GAIREE GAON 320 3 YANGKHOO YANGKHOO 1835 4 YANGKHOO AEGHARA NUMBER 540 5 DABAIPANI KOTHI DHURA 660 6 HARSING SCHOOL DHURA 500 7 DABAIPANI BALBIR DHURA 720 8 DABAIPANI GODAWN DHURA 4220 9 DABAIPANI SAILA DHURA 2000 10 DABAIPANI AAP BOTAY 2020 11 DABAIPANI SUBAN DHURA/12 NUMBER 825 TOTAL 15000


PLANTATIONS AUGUST 2014

Planted species

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Species Local name Scientific name Typical height Growth speedJapanese Cedar Dhupi Cryptomeria

Japonica 5-10m

Crape Myrtal Jarul Lagerstroemia Speciosa 20m

Himalayan Cedar Kawlo Cedrus Deodara 5-10m

Teak 3-5m Yield after 3 years

Coffee 5m Yield after 3 years

White Cedar Melia azedarach

Pipal Tree Pipli Exbucklandia populnea 10-15m

2014

Wave of plantation 1

Number of farmers involved

240 families

Number of trees distributed

7 500

Number of sectors

3 sectors, 11 villages

The complete mapping of the planted species will be done by january 2015, at the end of the first monitoring.


ENVIRONMENT SENSIBILISATION

DEE program

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Development Environment Education in Mineral Spring school Environment issues are a common preoccupation for people in Darjeeling hills. In collaboration with several schools, NGO DLR Prerna with his program DEE (Development Environment Education) promotes responsibility, empathy and action on issues of development and environment. The focus of this program is on individual, family, community and institutional responsibilities towards a sustainable and equitable socio-ecological system. In the wild Mineral Spring area ecological subjects are important, solid waste management, biodiversity, deforestation, importance to keep agroforestry system model . ,Teachers of Mineral Spring school talk about these issues to farmer’s children. Pur Projet program is a new and additional way of environment awareness for small farmers. Seeing their father plant trees, children can see a real example of what they learn in school about environmental issues, about the importance to keep this fruitful biodiversity on their lands.


MONITORING

GPS Mapping of 3 parcels

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MONITORING

GPS Mapping of Navin TAMANG’s parcel

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MONITORING

GPS Mapping of Dan KUMAR’s parcel

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EXPECTED RESULTS

Socio-economic benefits over time

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• Carbon sequestration in trees

• Impact on climate change at

global and local level

• Increase and diversification of revenues

- Yield and quality increase

- Timber sales at maturity

• Less dependence on crop production

• Social cohesion

• Pride, Cultural value

• Food sovereignty

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC

BIODIVERSITY • Ecosystems preservation and regeneration

• Cycle of organic matter, pollination

Protection of threatened and endemic

species

WATER • Preservation of water resources

• Increase of water stocking capacity

• Regulation of rainfalls / avoiding droughts

• Filtering and limitation of water runoff

SOILS • Regeneration of unproductive

soils

• Erosion avoided

• Nitrate sequestration

CLIMATE


1. KEY INFORMATION





Continuation of activities after the first planting wave

NEXT STEPS

FIRST MONITORING OF PLANTATIONS Community trainings on plantations and maintenance techniques. First monitoring parcels registration, geomapping, entry in control system. First monitoring of plantations: control of mortality, maintenance, field

trainings. SECOND MONITORING OF PLANTATIONS Second monitoring of plantations: mortality, growth, maintenance. Update of control system.

PROJECT MATURITY Annual monitoring: monitoring of tree growth, assessment of environmental

and economic benefits. Annual progress and monitoring report.

SEPT 2014 DEC 2014

2016 AND AFTER

2015


1. KEY INFORMATION





D a r j e e l i n g c i t y Capital of Darjeeling District, State of West Bengal, India

Darjeeling project, India – April 2014 27

M o n o c u l t u r e t e a p l a n t a t i o n Darjeeling hills


W o r k e r s i n a m o n o c u l t u r e t e a p l a n t a t i o n Darjeeling hills


M i n e r a l S p r i n g h i l l s 17 km from Darjeeling city – The area of Mineral Spring tea cooperative


A g r o f o r e s t r y t e a m o d e l Yangkhoo village, Mineral Spring (tea, cardamom, orange, turmeric, beans, ginger)


M i n e r a l S p r i n g C o o p e r a t i v e Day of tea collect


T e a p r o d u c t i o n India is the second world’s largest producer of tea


P u r a n T A M A N G TPI Cooperative president


D u r a j R A I Tea producer – School Dhura village


A a p B o t a y v i l l a g e , M i n e r a l S p r i n g a r e a Navin Tamang House (tea farmer)


A a p B o t a y v i l l a g e Tea farmer’s daughter


T e a p r o d u c e r ’ s f a m i l y Aap Botay village


V i c k e y R A I & P r e m r a j R A I Tea producers – Yangkhoo village


M i n e r a l S p r i n g s c h o o l T e a c h e r w i t h h e r c l a s s , Y a n g k h o o v i l l a g e


S a i l e s h S h a r m a NGO DLR Prerna, Mineral Spring area


M r s T a m a n g , Daragaon village, Mineral Spring area


S a n j u k t a V i k a s S u n s t a h c o o p e r a t i v e 456 family members


PUR PROJET

20 passage de la bonne graine 75011 Paris France

Tel: +33 9 81 30 91 43 [email protected]

www.purprojet.com

THANK YOU!

DARJEELING PROJECT · Darjeeling project, India – Sept 2014 2. PROJECT ACTIVITIES OCT 2013 –...

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