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Background
During April 2015, I visited Makaibari Tea Estate as a tourist and spent three nights at a Home-stay there. Visits to the Plantation and Factory were organised as part of the program. I also had a brief discussion with Mr. Rajah Banerjee, Chairman of the Estate.
I would like to share my observations regarding sustainable land management and organic cultivation at Makaibari.
I am doing this entirely in my private capacity because of my background and interest in the subject.
About Makaibari Tea Estate
Makaibari Tea Estate is located near Kurseong, in the southern part of Darjeeling district. Situated amongst the lower Himalayas, the area has an elevation of around 1600 m.a.s.l.
The Estate covers an area of 1573 acres of which 550 acres is under tea plantations with the remaining area under natural forest.
The Estate is over 157 years old and produces Darjeeling Leaf Tea from Camellia sinensis, Hybrid and Polyclonal tea bushes.
The Estate is a pioneer in implementing the Sustainable Land Management approach for Tea production. Around 4 decades ago the Estate began the shift from Chemical to Organic cultivation and is now certified as 100% organic.
Sustainable Land Management at Makaibari Tea Plantation
KEY ELEMENTS OF SLM: The entire estate area is under perennial
vegetation, as a result there is minimal disturbance of the soil surface.
Tea blocks are islands surrounded by forests. This has resulted in a unique six-tiered perma-cultural system.
The system creates a unique mulch which prevents erosion on the steep slopes, reduces weeding costs, reduces evapo-transpiration losses and creates a top-soil on decay.
Safe Disposal of Runoff Water prevents erosion and landslides
Organic cultivation practices are implemented for optimum soil health.
About Makaibari Organic
There is zero application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Nutrient management is through application of composted animal manure, plantation of leguminous trees and shrubs for fixing atmospheric nitrogen, decomposition of bio-mass used for mulching, application of vermicasts to build earthworm populations.
Pest management is through biological control; spraying of botanicals and some bio-dynamic preparations; planting of repellant species such as lemon grass.
This presentation is for information purposes only.Text and Photographs by David Gandhi.
For further information please visit www.makaibari.com
For information on Homestay please contact Mr. Nayan Lama, Homestay Facilitator Makaibari Tea Estate, Kurseong, Darjeeling [email protected] +91 983 244 7774