Wentworth estate of HML is the first tea plantation in the country to bag Trusttea logo

KOCHI: Wentworth Estate of Harrisons Malayalam Ltd., located in Nilgiris district has become the first tea estate in India to be verified under the India sustainable tea programme which assigns the Trusttea logo to certified estate. The verification evaluates tea estate’s commitment to social and economic condition of the work force, environmental protection and sustainability issues and safety at work place and product safety.

According to N Dharmaraj, chief executive of Harrisons Malayalam Ltd., by being Trusttea verified, the Wentworth estate has improved competitiveness of its teas apart from complying with national and international sustainability standards. Increasing number of consumers around the world are insisting that the products they pay for be made from sustainable sources, he added.

Currently 880 employees are directly employed by the estate where tea was planted between 1900 and 1930. Apart from supporting an internal population around 4000 people, the estate supports 100 nearby smallholders by purchasing their green leaf for manufacturing throughout the year.

Dharmaraj said Wentworth factory has the capacity to produce 2.45 million kg per annum of high quality orthodox tea. Goldsland Select a premium brand produced by the factory fetches some of the highest prices in South India. `` We do not use any hazardous pesticides and follow scientific methods on pest surveillance and management including strict adoption of safe harvesting intervals.’’

Harrisons is planning to bring Moongalar, Wallardie, Pattumalay and Lockhart tea estates in the Idukki district of Kerala into the Trusttea ambit soon.