Smallholder tea farmers often face an uphill battle. With limited access to markets, many are forced to sell their green leaves to intermediaries or large factories quickly and often at unfair prices. But a quiet revolution is brewing.
This webinar takes you inside the story of Grassroots Tea Corporation (GTC), a bold initiative in Assam, India, that is flipping the script. Formed by several hundred small-scale indigenous farmers (many from the Bodo tribe) GTC shows what’s possible when producers join forces, build their own processing units and sell tea under their own brand: Equifarm Tea.
GTC’s approach is simple but powerful. The farmers manufacture high-quality, chemical-free tea using regenerative farming methods. They sell directly to consumers and buyers, cutting out the middle layers. Their ambitions don’t stop there: they’re breaking gender norms in tea processing, building income streams from aquaculture and supporting women to become entrepreneurs in handcrafted green tea.
This is more than a case study. It’s a glimpse into what a fairer and more sustainable tea industry could look like driven from the ground up… with a little extra help.
Join J John, Managing Director of Grassroots Tea Corporation, as he shares the thinking behind this innovative model, the lessons learned so far and his hopes for a more equitable future in tea.
Date and time
July 31st 09:00-10:00 BST
Ticket price
Free
Why is this subject important?
Smallholder farmers now account for over 50% of global tea production. It’s important to explore models that support them to be empowered and add value to the tea they produce.
What will this webinar cover?
- Learn how GTC is helping farmers take control of the tea value chain and how similar models could be adapted to your context
- See why a producer company model was chosen over a cooperative and what that means for long-term sustainability and governance
- Discover how farmer-owned branding like Equifarm Tea is delivering real benefits for people, planet and profits
- Gain insight into how GTC is tackling common challenges such as certification costs, market access and gender equity
- Understand how GTC’s grassroots model is shifting power dynamics in tea, offering lessons for ethical trade, supply chains and advocacy work
How will attending this event benefit me / my organisation?
Smallholder tea farmers looking to increase their income, as well as anyone working with or buying from them, will benefit from learning how this innovative model has evolved and how it now works.
About the speaker/s
JJohn is a highly experienced veteran of India’s smallholder tea sector. He has played a critical role in raising their profile, helping to organise
This webinar tackles the following root causes of human rights breaches in the tea industry
- Low price of tea
- Power imbalances
- Attitudes towards tea workers
- Competition over collaboration
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