Tea Production of the Panchagarh Tea Production Somobay Samity Limited (Bangladesh)

Описание: In northern Bangladesh lies Panchagarh, a region known for its tea gardens. For decades, smallholder farmers here have grown tea leaves, yet earned very little from their hard work. Many were forced to sell to factories at unfair prices and endure long delays in payment after delivering their harvests, often resulting in losses rather than profits.

To change this, the Panchagarh Tea Production Somobay Samity Ltd. (PTPSSL) was formed, with a clear objective: to process farmers’ own tea and secure fair and timely earnings. Under its own brand, Pancha Tea, the cooperative aims to produce high-quality tea while ensuring better income for its members.

With support from APFP–FO4A, the cooperative has taken a major step toward building a farmer-owned tea enterprise. The cooperative received USD 28,587 in funding to establish its own tea processing plant. This funding served as seed capital, enabling members to jointly invest in the business and share profits through the cooperative. Members received training and continuous monitoring to help build a sustainable and resilient business.

The cooperative has already begun setting up its processing, packaging, and branding systems, and it has also secured the necessary certifications from government bodies and institutions, allowing it to enter the regulated tea market.

The Asia-Pacific Farmers’ Program (APFP) – Farmers’ Organizations for Asia (FO4A) is implemented by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC), with funding from the European Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The program aims to strengthen the capacities of farmers’ organizations to provide economic services, advocate for enabling policies, and promote sustainable livelihoods for small-scale family farmers across Asia. APFP-FO4A is implemented in Bangladesh by the COAST Foundation.