1. What is Rational Farming? Is it a new nomenclature for organic farming? 

In rational farming, we do what is natural for the plant's philosophy and physiology. Thus it is different and superior then the general organic farming. The replacement theory of 'what is taken out is to put back' in conventional chemical farming is also followed in terms of organic farming-only chemical fertilizers are replaced by organic matter. In rational farming we believe that plants in their natural state has two basic inheritance- the feed themselves i.e. self-nourishment and self-protection. It is the interference on humans that that have changed the environment and hence made them to feed themselves artificially and made them weak. The technology of Inhana Bioscience attains this very problem by activating the plants so that their immune system is reactivated and they begin to take their food from atmosphere and soil in a natural manner.

2. What are the factors that encouraged / motivated you to switch on to rational tea farming from conventional method?

In 2001, when the Group first came into contact of Inhana, a research company based in Kolkata, organic farming as it was understood then in tea industry was an area considered untouchable specially for making CTC teas. However, after long interaction with Mr. P. Das Biswas, Founder of Inhana, the Group came to understand two things -1. That present chemical farming is unscientific and 2. The method of Rational Farming (pure organic farming) advocated by Inhana Biosciences was scientific and was the path all farmers will have to follow in future including tea. The technology offered by Inhana assured no crop loss and no increase in cost of production over the normal chemical farming. The concept was novel and adventurous but at the same time more scientific. Thus our moving away from chemical farming was to produce pure tea at an economical price in a scientific manner that can be offered to all people at a reasonable price and not only an elite few who can afford. Thus export and higher price realization normally associated for organic food grower were not the criteria. If successful, then it would show a new path to all persons involved in agriculture. Hence instead of Belseri tea estate which manufactures both CTC and orthodox teas and had more potential of export, the Group chose to start the project in Jalinga which produced only CTC and was located in lower Assam. Here the export potential was negligible. Generally only Darjeeling orthodox and green teas are available as 'organic' teas. To produce organic tea is more difficult than other agriculture produce. But Jalinga because of its geographical location, poor soil status and termite infested area had all the chance of failure. The Group wanted to test the technology and its principle in the toughest situation.

3. You call your method of farming as 'Rational'. How do you differentiate Rational Farming® from that of organic farming?

Most of the organic farming in general follows the same principle of farming used in chemical farming. Only it replaces chemicals with organic inputs. Use of bio pesticides, is not recommended in Rational Farming®. Also no microbiological innoculations to disturb insects' normal life cycle or to kill them is used. The conventional organic methods are expensive in terms of input cost, holistic and have loss of crop. Rational Farming® of Inhana offers a safe, convenient, effective, complete and economical alternative to chemical farming. It is based on the principle that plants have the Sense of "Self- Nourishment and Self- Protection." if left by themselves. However, since we humans have subjected them to poisonous chemicals, the soil has become a mere inert support system without the microbial activities and the plants have become toxicated and lost their two heritages of Self- Nourishment and Self- Protection. Inhana provided energized and potentised botanical extracts which gave specific energy to strengthen the plant system. The desired plant functions are activated and the plant mechanisms are stimulated to reach to its original self sufficient status. These organic solutions were developed under their E.E.A® (Element Energy Activation) principle. Along with these solutions, very special compost is recommended in Rational Farming®, which is developed under Novcom technology of Inhana. This compost is very different from is objectivity and value than other conventional composting. Inhana calls it as an ideal exogenous soil inoculation which has multidisciplinary role rather than only providing the nutrients. Hence this is required comparatively much smaller quantity and the main objectivity of Novcom compost is to make soil alive from the present inert state. Combination of Novcom and various Inhana solutions stimulate and activate the plant system and reanimates the mother earth. In Rational Farming® nothing is recommended having cidal mechanism like weedicide, pesticide etc in herbal form also.

4. Certification is said to be an assurance for quality. What are the measures taken up by your company to ensure quality?

True organic farming means full transparency of the practices followed in the farm. Rational Farming® advocates the same and when no chemicals or bio chemicals are used, why would one need any outside agency for checking quality. All our customers are requested to visit the tea estate for personal assurance of the practices followed and encouraged to take samples of soil, leaf and tea at any place and at any point. Finally it is the end product that must be pure and we get our teas regularly tested for pesticide residue in India and Germany. Repeated testing has proved that our teas are pure. Today the word 'organic' is indirectly patented by certifying agencies. But can we afford to have all our food products certified? If majority of our food gets produced without chemicals and more and more organic practices are followed, then is the certification needed? May be those who use chemicals must get their products certified for toxic levels! After all that was the gift from the Western world and they are most qualified to quantify the same. Further, India has been practicing organic farming for centuries. The system was changed by the western world by inducing chemicals in our farms. Now they want us to stop its use and get it certified by them. Does this make any sense to true Indian citizen? 

5. The productivity levels are reported to go down in the initial phase of transition to organic farming. From your experience, what do you have to say about this?

As mentioned earlier, the first condition of Rational Farming® is that there should be no crop loss and no increase in input costs. We have found that to be true. It is for this reason also that since our costs have not gone up, we can offer pure tea at a reasonable price for the masses and not just a few elite groups.

6. Give us a glimpse about the domestic market vis-à-vis international market for organic tea.

Organic teas are produced primarily in Darjeeling and hence these are mainly orthodox and green teas. Since in general, the cost becomes high they have very little market in India and hence are primarily exported. Even the total certified organic tea produced is small - about 3.5 million kg out of 850 million kg and all do not get sold as organic! Awareness in India for organic food in general is low. Abroad the market is increasing but they too are finding it difficult to sell organic foods at a premium and tea is no exception. Even in USA, though organic food business is increasing at 20% every year, the total percent age is still low - less then 3%.

7. Organic inputs are bulky in nature and are needed in huge quantities when compared to the chemical inputs. This being the conditions, what are the effects on cost side?

As mentioned earlier, since we use Novcom compost, the quantity needed is much less and is made in the garden from green matter and cow manure. The process of making and applying compost is highly cost effective. Further, after sickling, the green matter is mulched and composted in-situ by Inhana solution - once again making the process more cost effective.

8. What are the apparent differences that you could notice in the tea plantation after conversion into Rational Farming®? 

The list of differences is quite long. Some of them are:
a) Increased activities of earthworms, amphibians, snakes, and birds.
b) The earth runs due to termite on plants disappeared in the second year.
c) The weeds changed their brude as we went on sickling and cheeling and are now softer, smaller and more easily manageable.
d) Pest occurrence was less frequent and less severe and hence manageable with Inhana solutions.
e) Plants were less susceptible to drought.
f) Soil was softer and porous and hence had more water holding capacity.
g) Nursery gave mature plants faster and with side laterals at the bottom thus making the plants better for development into a tea bush.

9. What were the obstacles / bottlenecks that you came across during the transition to Rational Farming®?

Tea gardens are located in Assam and managed by Managers and assistant with the Head Office in Kolkata. They have been trained in use of chemicals for several years. Hence to convince them otherwise was difficult. But in our case, this being a novel process, they had no other planters (not even other conventional organic gardens) whom they could ask for any suggestions because our practice was entirely different. Making 2000 tons of compost in a period of four months in the garden was a mammoth task and to make a good quality was more difficult because in Rational Farming Technology, compost is viewed from a very different angle where compost is advocated as both art and science. Since it is a human involved job, to keep the quality at the desired level in that volume was a genuine problem. Since Rational Farming advocates no pesticides, even in herbal form, the identification and control was new subject of learning for the manager followed by his assistants. Cash flow in the compost exercise was also a practical problem as it needs a huge and regular cash flow in a short period of time. First year it was made in the field but later to get better quality control, we started with a central composting area. But cash flow was a problem. In chemical farming, fertilizers were applied in two doses - first in April and then in September. Payments were after 30 - 60 days. But compost had to be made and applied by March and since it was primarily labour wages, it had to be paid weekly. Same was true when weedicide was replaced by manual work. Further, Inhana 's energized and potentized plant extract are almost like water and can be consumed without any adverse effect. They are colourless and odourless. Thus it is difficult check when they are sprayed in such a large area. Hence supervision becomes very important.

10. How many products are there? How do you control pests? Does one solution works against all pests? How do you eradicate disease?

There are several products or solution depending on the specific need. First we do not believe that there are any pests. But till the ecological balance is brought back and plants are given strength to resist infection and pests, these problems become much less. For example, immunosil of Inhana. Biosciences allows the plant to extract the silica from the soil and thus build the immunity against the disease.

11. What are your suggestions for the growers who are aspiring to take up rational/ organic farming in tea garden?

If we had the confidence in conventional organic farming, we ourselves would have gone into it. But for Rational Farming®, we have the full confidence of success. But the idea for moving in that direction should be clearly understood so that there are no ambiguities in the future. Shortfalls of chemical farming apart from ecological drawbacks, its loss of effectivity and unscientific process should be studied and understood. The future drawbacks of conventional organic farming practiced under different names / nomenclature should be also studied. Rational Farming® is the scientific organic farming and can be effective in all the crops but the implementation parameters are to be understood for different crops and at different agrochimatic zones. 

12. How is the acceptance level of your product? Are the consumers willing to pay the premium price for the same?

The question of trying for premium price does not arise because that has not been our primary goal for conversion. We expect consumer to pay slightly higher price only because of the value addition of the product. Our commitment to give the pure tea at most economical price therefore continues. We have been marketing our packets in Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, UP, etc.

13. Who are your major consumers? How is the response towards Naturorganic® tea from markets like Germany and U.K.? How potential is the market out there?

Our major market is still domestic and we shall continue to have that because of our commitment. But pure tea will have its place in the international market because the teas meet the pesticide residue limits easily in International market. Moreover in abroad also, this will be the most economical Indian organic tea in the International market. But as we go into this for more years, the plant's physiology will change and the teas produced will slowly have its own flavour. In that sense, we are yet to reach our full potential.

14. Throw us some light on the pesticide residue on tea, which is fast becoming a debatable issue?

All food products including tea will be under the scrutiny of pesticide residue in days to come. But without giving a viable alternative, it is difficult for the Government also to enforce the rules since we can not have shortage in food or tea nor can the Government subsidize it any further when one goes into organic production. While other organic methods practiced so far will give us pure teas eventually, but the cost becomes prohibitive. In case of tea when we are calling it a health drink, it is all the more important to make it free of pesticide residue. At present the knowledge about the toxic effect of pesticides and chemical fertilizers on human health are not satisfactory even in educated class. The growing understanding about this aspect will more and more enforce the stringency.

15. What are your future plans so as to grow and excel in this organic tea sector?

With the limited resources we have, we shall be holding seminars and awareness program with Inhana Biosciences for other members in tea community as well as farmers In our tea estate we are planning to have our own laboratory for testing our soil and teas and in future also from other agriculture sectors. If Government or Tea Board or Ministry of Agriculture is interested, we can be partner of the awareness program in association with Inhana Biosciences. On 7th May, 2005, there will be a joint seminar on organic tea with Assam University and Inhana Biosciences. This will be a part of the awareness program of our Group in organic farming.