Sanjay Bansal

Ambootia group

Hello, my name is Sanjay Bansal and I am the chairman of the Ambootia group. Thank you for buying our organic Curcuma.

We are proud to grow and export this special, exceptionally healthy root vegetable. Curcuma is deeply rooted in the Indian cuisine and culture and we are therefore pleased to add fresh curcuma to our product range.

Ambootia however is particularly well known for growing premium, biodynamic and teas which we export all over the world. People say that tea runs through my blood !

My father, Mr SP Bansal, took up a job in a tea company in Assam in 1948 and I was born on the Ambootia tea estate (in the Darjeeling province) in 1961. Over the years I learned more about the tea business and as I became more knowledgeable, I realized that sustainable agriculture was the best way to guarantee high quality on the long term. In 1991 we therefore started with organic agricultural techniques. We were confident that this, for us "new method", would help us not only increase productivity but also improve quality. Furthermore, it appealed to us as an environmentally and socially responsible method of farming. Since 1984 we have been growing steadily and have never looked back!

Apart from tea and curcuma we also produce organic oranges, ginger and delicious honey.

Interview with Sanjay Bansal

What do you like best about the organic methods?

Under the organic method of farming we have been able to balance economic activity with environmental and social consciousness. We are not only happy to produce a safer product but create a healthier environment for the workers. On top of that this method, being labour intensive, has helped increase the income of the workers as well.

What have you learned since having changed to organic ?

That if we stop to listen to nature it is our best guide.

What kind of advice would you give to another grower who is interested to convert to organic?

Organic activity should not only be undertaken for short term economic gains but for the virtues of this superior method of farming. It is a low energy input system that relies on local supplies and in the long term creates a self reliant and self sustaining entity.

What else would you like to do to improve the situation of Ambootia?

To undertake more welfare programs in the area of water management. To provide greater opportunities for higher education and vocational training for the young population

What role do consumers play in your opinion to improve the situation of workers at Ambootia?

The support and appreciation of our consumers is our inspiration. They give us a purpose through which we realize our potential and in doing so maximize job satisfaction and our economic goals.

Sustainability flower

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soil

On our farms we carry out various measures to improve soil structure and this is helping to preventing soil loss and erosion. For us improving the structure is not just about healthier plants and better production, it is a matter of security. Many years ago Ambootia experienced the largest landslide in Asia. This terrible event is a source of insecurity for the inhabitants. To ensure something terrible like this does not happen again we set up a rehabilitation project including afforestation of the affected area to prevent any further erosion. This is bringing back a feeling of security.

biodiversity

The Indian mountains have a diverse fauna including many types of birds, reptiles, mammals and insects. To protect all these creatures we have introduced a wild life policy. Hunting, capturing and trafficking is strictly prohibited.

Furthermore, the biodynamic practices has created an environment in which the flora and fauna on micro and macro level could regenerate significantly. Due to the impressive afforestation efforts in the Ambootia Valley (see Soil for more details on the landslide), there has been a return of wildlife and birdlife to the area. Populations of wild mountain goats and deer have been found in the forested areas of our plantations. Also, the increase of a wide range of birds around the farms incl. a number of migratory birds confirms the positive impact.

"Seed Security" is one of today’s most critical issues to maintain the integrity of organic agricultural practices. At Ambootia we have a program where we produce our own seeds for tea bushes and other shade trees, hedges, plants etc.

individual

The wide range of turmeric health benefits come mainly from its main ingredient, curcumin. One of the main alleged properties of curcumin is that it is an extremely effective anti-oxidant and boosts your immune system. Furthermore, studies show that curcumin helps maintain normal cholesterol levels and puts the brakes on aging. Asians have been using curcuma for centuries to treat gastrointestinal disorders, arthritis pain and to heal wounds.

Every year 20.000 to 340.000 farmworkers die of pesticide poisoning and 1 to 5 million farmworkers get sick from it. In organic cultivation no chemical-synthetic pesticides are used and significantly less pesticide residues are found on organic products in the store. Research indicates (Fantke & Jolliet, 2016) that this also has a health effect for consumers. In short, we can say with confidence that organic fruits and vegetables, on the average, are healthier. And that also goes for our organic turmeric.

society

Corporate social responsibility for us is creating an environment for each and every member of our working family which inspires everyone to give their best. To build an economically viable and self sustaining model.

Many activities have been undertaken including: the organization of cultural and sporting events, equipping schools and crèches, financially supporting students so they can enjoy higher education, financial support for medical expenses, supporting village infrastructure in the form of restoring roads and building new ones.

Another important aspect has to with the fact that many years ago Ambootia experienced the largest landslide in Asia. This terrible event is a source of insecurity for the inhabitants. A rehabilitation project has been set up including afforestation of the affected area to prevent any further erosion. This is bringing back a feeling of security and has encouraged a stronger community feeling and the sense of belonging.

We confirm our dedication and commitment to the compliance with labour rights and social justice. The benefits offered to employees are very positive as these contribute to a certain degree of independence and contribute to the state of health in the tea garden communities as amongst others medical care for all family members is provided. Obviously, the conversion from conventional to biodynamic agricultural practices had the highest positive impact on the employee’s health.

We train our employees in not only work-related but also other issues which are of importance. The capacity to act with self-responsibility grows with each lesson learned about biodynamic agriculture, environment, health and safety and fair treatment. The approach to build infrastructure for education is the right way to prevent child labour and other discrimination issues.

climate

At Ambootia we have decided to gradually replace the coal fired heaters with hydro-power based electrical heaters which will reduce the environmental impact significantly. Furthermore, the fact that we do not use any chemical fertilizers or pesticides means an indirect energy saving compared to non organic tea producers.

The overall carbon footprint of Ambootia is very interesting because due to our farming practices there is a high sequestration rate of carbon through bushes, trees and soil so that more CO2 is sequestered than emitted in the end. On an international benchmark this is quite outstanding.

water

We are blessed with ample water and the fact that we use no chemicals means that the run off is clean and safe

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