Replacing harmful pesticides with biological alternatives for Tea Gardens
One of the largest producers of Tea in India made a conscientious shift to a more sustainable and holistic approach to address their pest problem.
Area under Tea Cultivation in India
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Area under Organic Tea in India
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Loss of yield due to pests attacks in India
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Largest Tea Producer in the World- India
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Chemicals used in the Tea Industry
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Tea Exported by India each year
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Context
Climate Change has resulted in a huge shift in the various pests that are impacting tea estates in India
To protect tea, we have to innovate and move away from conventional methods and turn to biological alternatives that offer not only crop protection, but also environmental and soil protection, preservation of biodiversity and human health.Â
To support the Tea Industry, The Tea Board of India issued the PPC (Plant Protection Code) in 2015, a set of guidelines for regulating chemical input use in tea cultivation, to comply with food safety standards, and export regulations.Â
To support the Tea Industry, The Tea Board of India issued the PPC (Plant Protection Code) in 2015, a set of guidelines for regulating chemical input use in tea cultivation, to comply with food safety standards, and export regulations.Â
Approach
Conventional large scale estates need to make staged and incremental shifts so that productivity and economics are not impacted negatively.
The issue with the conventional way
Tea Estates are caught in a vicious circle of chemical pesticide use that is counterproductive to tea cultivation. Greenhouse gas emissions from pesticide use contribute to climate change which results in increased pest attacks and subsequent decline of crop yields.
This negative environmental effect wrecks natural biodiversity resulting in loss of beneficial soil microbes and other fauna. Waterways get polluted and contaminate groundwater and freshwater supplies that impact all of us. In addition, high usage of pesticides leave excessive residues on food commodities that adversely impact human health.Â
This negative environmental effect wrecks natural biodiversity resulting in loss of beneficial soil microbes and other fauna. Waterways get polluted and contaminate groundwater and freshwater supplies that impact all of us. In addition, high usage of pesticides leave excessive residues on food commodities that adversely impact human health.Â
Firefly’s alternative approach
The Tea Board of India has already mandated the use of safer, healthier and environment-friendly products such Neem and Pongamia Oil in conjunction with (GAP) Good Agricultural Practices and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for weaning of chemical dependency in Tea Estates.Â
Firefly’s product formulation has a greater efficacy due to a proprietary technology that combines Neem and Pongamia oils to ensure that the resulting product is absorbed efficiently into the plant, and is available at viable costs for tea gardens.
Gallery
Our Solutions
Firefly worked with our client and used proven products and processes to create measurable impact towards the sustainable replacement of chemical pesticides within 1 year.
Solving from the root
Understanding and identifying the core reasons for pest attacks and the solutions for the short, medium and long terms.
Use of Bio Pesticides
Use of biological alternatives by studying and replacing existing protocols of the company incrementally but significantly.
Enabling impact
Supporting the next steps towards creating sustainable ecosystems and mitigating climate change by introducing crop diversification strategies, low carbon footprint systems such as water harvesting and reuse, renewable energy, and more.
Focus on soil health
Regenerating soil health and enhancing carbon sequestration by introducing in-house composting, biomass cultivation, and bio fertilizers.
Impact
Sustained increase of Bio Pesticide use
Sustained Crop
Yields
Yields
Increased Biodiversity and Ecological balance
Preservation of Freshwater Sources
High Quality Chemical-free Tea Production
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