Agroforestry, energy and sustainability in the tea industry of Upper North Thailand
Date
1992
Authors
Sawin, Stewart Wade
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Abstract
In Upper North Thailand, fuelwood shortages threaten the production of miang (a fermented tea product) and green tea. Large amounts of firewood and charcoal are needed to process tea leaves. Government restrictions on cutting in the forest have increased firewood collection in the tea gardens, threatening the sustainability of this upland agroforestry system. Most tea growers still collect a substantial portion of their firewood from the forest, causing a great deal of tension between the villagers and forest officials. Fuelwood supply problems, labour shortages and insecure land tenure threaten the livelihood of the tea producers.
This study examines the tea gardens as an upland agroforestry system; assesses the health of the tea gardens; examines miang and green tea production; and expands the range of alternatives for resolving the firewood supply problems. It is structured as follows: (1) problem definition (resource scarcity, fuel wood supply shortage); (2) examine the resource base: tea gardens (upland agroforestry system) and management practices; (3) examine the resource-use system: miang and green tea production, fuelwood use and supply, attitudes and perceptions of the tea growers; (4) evaluation: current coping strategies; and (5) recommendations: expand the range of alternatives for resolving the resource-scarcity problem.
The problem is studied from a resource management perspective which attempts to expand the range of choice for resolving the fuelwood supply problems. Physical and social surveys provide the primary data. Fixed boundary vegetation sampling plots from 0.5 to 1.5 rai in size (13 completed) examine the biophysical characteristics of the tea gardens. Indepth interviews (10) with tea garden owners examine management practices. Written questionnaires were administered to miang producers (57), non-miang producers (30) and tea factory owners (6) to study tea production and fuelwood supply and consumption. They also provided information regarding the socioeconomic characteristics of the villagers and attitudes and perceptions of the tea growers regarding fuelwood use, deforestation and other resource-use problems. Twenty personal interviews completed with other key informants (i.e. government officials) and field observations added information and helped interpret the data collected by these other methods.
The tea gardens have about one third the density and diversity of similar relatively undisturbed deciduous/evergreen monsoon forest. Due to weedy ground cover and/or poor forest tree regeneration, 7 of the 13 vegetation plots are unhealthy. Weedy ground covers hinder forest tree regeneration, compete with the tea trees for water and nutrients, and require heavy slashing which increases sapling mortality. Maintaining forest cover is critical to the health of this agroforestry system and care must be taken that weedy species do not increase. In some areas, weeds like Eupatorium adenophorun dominate the ground cover; it is a major problem in two of the gardens studied.
Four-fifths of the miang producers are facing firewood supply and/or access problems. Six green tea factories were studied: one has stopped using charcoal; one has switched from green tea to miang partially due to fuelwood supply problems; and two owners stated that they will be forced to close in the next 2-3 years if the fuelwood problem continues.
The physical and social survey data provided the foundation for an evaluation of the problem and the development of realistic recommendations. A four-part strategy is proposed for the miang industry which uses the natural regenerative capability of the forest cover and innovation in management by the traditional tea growers to decrease firewood use and increase forest cover in the tea gardens. This proposed strategy is not labour or resource demanding and is 'appropriate' for the villagers' needs. Woodlots are necessary to meet the fuelwood needs for the green tea factories.
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UN SDG 15: Life on Land