Page 28 - Pelc, Stanko, ed., 2015. Spatial, social and economic factors of marginalization in the changing global context. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 28
tial, social, and economic factors of marginalization in the changing global context 26 farms going out of business and tea farm abandonment as well as in
delays in replantings and/or supplementary plantings. The environ-
mental problems that arise as a consequence are also grave. Oth-
er obstacles to tea producers are labor shortages/drains and rising
wages, which are primarily the result of improvements in worker
education levels.
Such were the conditions under which Sri Lankan tea plantations
pioneered organic tea farming ahead of the rest of the world. The
backdrop to this was an expanding market for organic agricultural
produce which was brought about by a heightened awareness to-
wards the environment and food safety among consumers in devel-
oped countries. Sri Lankan companies responded to these trends
and introduced organic farming methods. In addition to their aims
to generate profits by developing strategic and differentiated mar-
kets, these moves were also motivated in no small part by the
awareness of these companies towards the environment and food
safety.
Organic farming was primarily pursued in locations whose conditions
made productivity improvements difficult, and became an alterna-
tive means to promote tea production. In fact, the areas surround-
ing organic tea farms are riddled with abandoned farm land, and only
a few tea farms that do operate have had their tea plants replanted.
Organic tea farms on the other hand have overcome these obsta-
cles by taking the following approaches. Firstly, they promoted each
tea farm under their own brand, a practice not seen in conventional
tea farms in neighboring areas, and this has resulted in a discernible
difference in price. Secondly, the characteristics of this agricultural
method have had a positive impact on environmental conservation
including increased diversity of farmed crops as well as bio-diver-
sity in general. Thirdly, some certified organic tea farms have also
embodied the ideals of fair trading, and are actively engaged in im-
proving worker welfare. Fourthly, most certified organic tea farms
are working hard to attract customers by providing eco-tourism
services and through other means. As you can see, organic farm-
ing on tea plantations is characterized by a variety of post-produc-
tivism elements, making it distinct from practices implemented on
traditional plantations where productivism was the imperative.
However, tea plantations that have introduced organic farming face
delays in replantings and/or supplementary plantings. The environ-
mental problems that arise as a consequence are also grave. Oth-
er obstacles to tea producers are labor shortages/drains and rising
wages, which are primarily the result of improvements in worker
education levels.
Such were the conditions under which Sri Lankan tea plantations
pioneered organic tea farming ahead of the rest of the world. The
backdrop to this was an expanding market for organic agricultural
produce which was brought about by a heightened awareness to-
wards the environment and food safety among consumers in devel-
oped countries. Sri Lankan companies responded to these trends
and introduced organic farming methods. In addition to their aims
to generate profits by developing strategic and differentiated mar-
kets, these moves were also motivated in no small part by the
awareness of these companies towards the environment and food
safety.
Organic farming was primarily pursued in locations whose conditions
made productivity improvements difficult, and became an alterna-
tive means to promote tea production. In fact, the areas surround-
ing organic tea farms are riddled with abandoned farm land, and only
a few tea farms that do operate have had their tea plants replanted.
Organic tea farms on the other hand have overcome these obsta-
cles by taking the following approaches. Firstly, they promoted each
tea farm under their own brand, a practice not seen in conventional
tea farms in neighboring areas, and this has resulted in a discernible
difference in price. Secondly, the characteristics of this agricultural
method have had a positive impact on environmental conservation
including increased diversity of farmed crops as well as bio-diver-
sity in general. Thirdly, some certified organic tea farms have also
embodied the ideals of fair trading, and are actively engaged in im-
proving worker welfare. Fourthly, most certified organic tea farms
are working hard to attract customers by providing eco-tourism
services and through other means. As you can see, organic farm-
ing on tea plantations is characterized by a variety of post-produc-
tivism elements, making it distinct from practices implemented on
traditional plantations where productivism was the imperative.
However, tea plantations that have introduced organic farming face
