Kenya<\/h1>\n\n\n\nTea production provides five million Kenyans with livelihoods.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nTea is a big industry in Kenya. First introduced to the country in 1903<\/a>, it now contributes an estimated 5 million<\/a> direct and indirect jobs. That means 10% of Kenyans rely on the industry for their livelihoods, including more than half a million<\/a> smallholder tea farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKenya is also one of the top tea-exporting nations, with an export value of a whopping USD 1.2 billion in 2019<\/a>. It is leading the way in the trade of sustainable tea, with nearly all<\/a> of its tea production complying with VSSs like Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade. But with so many people relying on the industry, has this made a difference to farmers\u2019 incomes?<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Kenyan](\"http:\/\/172.31.33.199\/ssi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tea-workers-kenya-300x200.jpg\")
<\/em> 10% of people in Kenya rely on the tea industry for their livelihoods. (Photo: iStock\/hadynyah)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Certification and training can help ensure fair, stable wages.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThanks to the growing global demand for sustainable tea, complying with VSSs can provide farmers with access to new markets, which can offer higher prices and premiums. Providing fair wages is also often part of the criteria for certification. For example, Fairtrade sets a minimum price for most of its products and provides farmers with additional funds<\/a> to invest in the community. When used to fix roads and bridges<\/a>, this can also improve farmers\u2019 connections to supply chain actors.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn Kenya, Farmer Field Schools also help train farmers in how to use sustainable production methods<\/a>, such as better pest and soil fertility management. Introduced by the Kenya Tea Development Agency Holdings Limited and partners in 2006<\/a>, the schools have helped producers increase yields. Studies show<\/a> that they have also encouraged farmers to work collectively to source equipment and sell their produce\u2014all of which can enhance farms\u2019 profitability.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIndia<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\nPoor working conditions and inequality affect tea growers in India.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nRecords suggest<\/a> that tea drinking has been part of Indian society since the 12th century. Cultivation was escalated by the British in the 19th century, and India is now one of the world\u2019s leading tea-producing countries. In 2016, the Tea Board of India estimated that the country produced 1.3 billion kilograms<\/a> of tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, studies have shown<\/a> that many tea plantation workers are denied their rights to decent working conditions. Tea-growing regions like Assam and Darjeeling often experience labour conflicts over issues like wages and access to healthcare. In addition, women bear the biggest brunt of inequality as they are most likely to be involved in plucking, which is low-paid<\/a> and can lead to health issues<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Women](\"http:\/\/172.31.33.199\/ssi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tea-workers-india-300x199.jpg\")
Many tea plantation workers in India are denied their rights to decent working conditions. (Photo: UnSplash\/Amit Ranjan)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\nCertification and policies can improve living standards.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nRespect for human rights and protecting the health of workers are two criteria often included in VSSs. In India, almost half of tea<\/a> is produced under the Trustea label, a VSS developed specifically for the Indian context. Trustea includes requirements for appropriate working conditions in their criteria for certification, including the provision of adequate training, maternity entitlements, and equal pay<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Indian government has also helped improve working conditions for tea farmers and workers. For example, the Plantation Labour Act legally requires plantations<\/a> to provide certain health and welfare benefits, from housing to medical facilities. Additionally, organizations like the Ethical Tea Partnership<\/a> are increasingly focusing on gender equality projects, such as training to enhance women\u2019s nutrition and participation in decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSri Lanka<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\nSri Lankan tea production is vulnerable to climate change.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSri Lanka is one of the oldest tea-producing regions in the world. Ceylon tea exports contribute to around 2% of the country\u2019s GDP<\/a>, and the industry supports more than 450,000<\/a> smallholder farmers. Due to favourable climates<\/a>, tea is primarily grown in the central highlands and southern inland regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, given that Sri Lanka is a developing island nation, tea production is particularly vulnerable<\/a> to stresses induced by climate change. Rising temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, and pests are putting strain on an industry<\/a> already weakened by competition and labour costs. What is more, these challenges are exacerbated by<\/a> deforestation and the excessive use of chemicals and pesticides.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Tea](\"http:\/\/172.31.33.199\/ssi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/tea-workers-sri-lanka-300x200.jpg\")
The tea industry supports more than 450,000 smallholder farmers in Sri Lanka, but tea production is vulnerable to stresses induced by climate change. (Photo: iStock\/tunart)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\nCertification and governments can support climate adaptation.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nMany certification schemes seek to help communities adapt to climate change. The Rainforest Alliance runs programs in Sri Lanka that help workers adopt climate-smart agricultural practices<\/a>. They educate tea farmers on how to maintain tree cover and reduce synthetic pesticide use. Their research shows that such practices benefit not only the environment but also the profitability<\/a> of certified farms.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn addition, the Sri Lankan National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change<\/a> has outlined a strategy to combat the effects of climate change. Measures range from introducing new heat, drought, and flood-tolerant cultivars to establishing a climate communication system that connects with tea farmers via mobile and Internet alerts.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLearning From Others<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\nAmid a variety of intense and complex sustainability challenges, these examples show that there is a range of approaches that can help tea farmers adapt and thrive. The impacts of these practices are the subject of ongoing research, but it appears that VSSs can play a major role in the quest for a more sustainable tea industry\u2014particularly when supported by measures put in place by governments and other actors that support farmers. Identifying such practices forms a central part of the SSI team\u2019s advisory services work<\/a>, as it can help inform authorities seeking to tackle similar challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis blog was written from research conducted by Vivek Voora and Sara Elder. The author would like to thank Sara Elder, David Perri, and Cristina Larrea for their valuable feedback on earlier drafts of this article.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From climate change impacts to price fluctuations, producing tea can be a volatile business. Here’s how some of the world\u2019s major tea-producing countries are making the industry more stable\u2014and sustainable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":1625,"parent":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-1676","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/ssi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/1676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/ssi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/ssi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/ssi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/ssi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/ssi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Tea is a big industry in Kenya. First introduced to the country in 1903<\/a>, it now contributes an estimated 5 million<\/a> direct and indirect jobs. That means 10% of Kenyans rely on the industry for their livelihoods, including more than half a million<\/a> smallholder tea farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kenya is also one of the top tea-exporting nations, with an export value of a whopping USD 1.2 billion in 2019<\/a>. It is leading the way in the trade of sustainable tea, with nearly all<\/a> of its tea production complying with VSSs like Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade. But with so many people relying on the industry, has this made a difference to farmers\u2019 incomes?<\/p>\n\n\n <\/em> 10% of people in Kenya rely on the tea industry for their livelihoods. (Photo: iStock\/hadynyah)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to the growing global demand for sustainable tea, complying with VSSs can provide farmers with access to new markets, which can offer higher prices and premiums. Providing fair wages is also often part of the criteria for certification. For example, Fairtrade sets a minimum price for most of its products and provides farmers with additional funds<\/a> to invest in the community. When used to fix roads and bridges<\/a>, this can also improve farmers\u2019 connections to supply chain actors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Kenya, Farmer Field Schools also help train farmers in how to use sustainable production methods<\/a>, such as better pest and soil fertility management. Introduced by the Kenya Tea Development Agency Holdings Limited and partners in 2006<\/a>, the schools have helped producers increase yields. Studies show<\/a> that they have also encouraged farmers to work collectively to source equipment and sell their produce\u2014all of which can enhance farms\u2019 profitability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Records suggest<\/a> that tea drinking has been part of Indian society since the 12th century. Cultivation was escalated by the British in the 19th century, and India is now one of the world\u2019s leading tea-producing countries. In 2016, the Tea Board of India estimated that the country produced 1.3 billion kilograms<\/a> of tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, studies have shown<\/a> that many tea plantation workers are denied their rights to decent working conditions. Tea-growing regions like Assam and Darjeeling often experience labour conflicts over issues like wages and access to healthcare. In addition, women bear the biggest brunt of inequality as they are most likely to be involved in plucking, which is low-paid<\/a> and can lead to health issues<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n Many tea plantation workers in India are denied their rights to decent working conditions. (Photo: UnSplash\/Amit Ranjan)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Respect for human rights and protecting the health of workers are two criteria often included in VSSs. In India, almost half of tea<\/a> is produced under the Trustea label, a VSS developed specifically for the Indian context. Trustea includes requirements for appropriate working conditions in their criteria for certification, including the provision of adequate training, maternity entitlements, and equal pay<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Indian government has also helped improve working conditions for tea farmers and workers. For example, the Plantation Labour Act legally requires plantations<\/a> to provide certain health and welfare benefits, from housing to medical facilities. Additionally, organizations like the Ethical Tea Partnership<\/a> are increasingly focusing on gender equality projects, such as training to enhance women\u2019s nutrition and participation in decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sri Lanka is one of the oldest tea-producing regions in the world. Ceylon tea exports contribute to around 2% of the country\u2019s GDP<\/a>, and the industry supports more than 450,000<\/a> smallholder farmers. Due to favourable climates<\/a>, tea is primarily grown in the central highlands and southern inland regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, given that Sri Lanka is a developing island nation, tea production is particularly vulnerable<\/a> to stresses induced by climate change. Rising temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, and pests are putting strain on an industry<\/a> already weakened by competition and labour costs. What is more, these challenges are exacerbated by<\/a> deforestation and the excessive use of chemicals and pesticides.<\/p>\n\n\n The tea industry supports more than 450,000 smallholder farmers in Sri Lanka, but tea production is vulnerable to stresses induced by climate change. (Photo: iStock\/tunart)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Many certification schemes seek to help communities adapt to climate change. The Rainforest Alliance runs programs in Sri Lanka that help workers adopt climate-smart agricultural practices<\/a>. They educate tea farmers on how to maintain tree cover and reduce synthetic pesticide use. Their research shows that such practices benefit not only the environment but also the profitability<\/a> of certified farms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, the Sri Lankan National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change<\/a> has outlined a strategy to combat the effects of climate change. Measures range from introducing new heat, drought, and flood-tolerant cultivars to establishing a climate communication system that connects with tea farmers via mobile and Internet alerts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amid a variety of intense and complex sustainability challenges, these examples show that there is a range of approaches that can help tea farmers adapt and thrive. The impacts of these practices are the subject of ongoing research, but it appears that VSSs can play a major role in the quest for a more sustainable tea industry\u2014particularly when supported by measures put in place by governments and other actors that support farmers. Identifying such practices forms a central part of the SSI team\u2019s advisory services work<\/a>, as it can help inform authorities seeking to tackle similar challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This blog was written from research conducted by Vivek Voora and Sara Elder. The author would like to thank Sara Elder, David Perri, and Cristina Larrea for their valuable feedback on earlier drafts of this article.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" From climate change impacts to price fluctuations, producing tea can be a volatile business. Here’s how some of the world\u2019s major tea-producing countries are making the industry more stable\u2014and sustainable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":1625,"parent":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-1676","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/ssi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/1676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/ssi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/ssi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/ssi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/ssi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/ssi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Certification and training can help ensure fair, stable wages.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
India<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Poor working conditions and inequality affect tea growers in India.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Certification and policies can improve living standards.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sri Lanka<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Sri Lankan tea production is vulnerable to climate change.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Certification and governments can support climate adaptation.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Learning From Others<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n