The project's overall objctive is to Introduce the UTZ Certified Code of Conduct in tea production in Malawi and helping the first tea estates and small producers to improve their agricultural practices and to obtain the resulting certification.
Activities include the following:
- Adapting the UTZ Certified Code of Conduct for tea to the local situations;
- Involving relevant local stakeholders (civil society and supply chain partners) for regular input and feedback and stimulating local exchange within the tea sector;
- Training tea estates with the UTZ Certified guidelines;
- Training and supporting smallholder groups in getting organized to receive training and implement certification;
- Developing manuals and other training materials;
- Achieving UTZ Certified certification.
As a result, the estates that received support and became certified, showed improvement of their internal organization and management system (documentation, recording, accountability, etc.). Environmental improvements were made through more efficient fertilizer and pesticide use and safe pesticide storage. Improvements in working conditions were driven mostly by ensuring the use of protective clothing during spraying and health and safety protection in tea factories (for example protection from dangerous equipment). Smallholder producers supplying the estates have shown interest in the support and certification activities offered by the project.