Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/491374
24 STiR tea & coffee industry international K L O T H & K Ö H N K E N T E E H A N D E L G M B H K O N S U L - S M I D T - S T R A S S E 8 j SPEICHER 1 - D -282 17 BREMEN FON + 4 9 - 4 2 1 - 3 4 8 5 2 6 4 FAX + 4 9 - 4 2 1 - 3 4 7 7 7 2 0 W W W . K K T E E . D E M A I L @ K K T E E . D E IT SUITS ALL MERCHANTS TO TRADE FAIR AND QUALI-TEA ! MYANMAR Germans Help Tea Producers Myanmar's tea producers are seeing increased productivity and better quality, and have a new processing factory since starting to work closely with GIZ (the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit). The partnership between Myanmar Tea Cluster, Palaung Tea Association and GIZ has meant progress in tea production, better technology and machinery, training and field trips for farmers. However, with low yields and consumption 100% higher than production, more work is needed to improve productivity. There is apparently plenty of land available for cultivation but the number of gardens is small, planting methods are ineffective and high costs of production make Myanmar tea more expensive than teas from India and Nepal. Some farmers are leaving for Thailand and China and it is hoped that the training and technical support will encourage them to stay in Myanmar. The long term plan is to establish a model farm and model tea factories with the assistance of GIZ. THAILAND Matcha Production Plant In November 2014, Maruzen Tea Japan joined forces with Thailand's Boonrawd Farm Company (a subsidiary of Boon- rawd Brewery Company and manufac- turer of Singha beer) to produce matcha from tea plants grown at the Singha Park tea estate in Chiang Rai province. The new company Maruzen Food (Thailand) has invested 140 million baht ($4.3 million) in Thailand's first ever Japanese style tea factory at Singha Park (the brewery's hub) where the tea will be manufactured. The tea estate currently has the capacity to produce 140 metric tons of green tea a year but the aim is to invest a further 140-200 million baht ($4-5 million) in 2015 to increase output to 210 metric tons. The demand for Japanese green teas is growing and the company says the teas produced by Maruzen Food (Thailand) will be 20-30% cheaper than imported teas. They will be sold in teabag and powder form into the domestic market and to Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other Asean member states such as Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. Learn more at: www.boonrawdfarm.com UK Unilever Sustainability Plan Towards the end of last year, Unilever announced that its sustainability initiative will reach deeper into its supply chain. The company and its 200 supply partners has committed to using its influence to improve the lives of a million people while delivering environ- mental and commercial benefits. Unilever's existing partnership with the Dutch NGO Solidaridad is being expanded from work in India, Mexico and Colombia to its supply chain in Arica, Latin America and Asia. The work will focus on promoting gender equality, improving agricultural and labor practices, encouraging the adoption of environmental best practices, and encouraging young entrepreneurs to work in agriculture. Tea is one of seven commodities in the program – the others are cocoa, sugar, palm oil, fruit and vegetables, soy and dairy. Unilever says that action must be taken now to ensure sustainable food supplies for an increasing future population. The partnerships with Solidaridad require all suppliers "to demonstrate how they are moving towards environmental and social best practices" and ensure that "business is conducted in a manner which embraces sustainability and reduces environmental impact". The partnership plans to raise money through public and private grants, credit and investments to facilitate a program of initiatives to help smallholder farmers.