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From : Compass Magazine_May2010
Text by : Mario
Raming Tea Co., Ltd. has been leading representative of Chiangmai entrepreneurs for more than seventy years. As the third generation heir and manager of the executive board, Jakarin Wangvivat, carries forward the intentions passed to him by his father, Nit Wangvivat, and grandfather, Prasit Phumchusri. Today, he is caretaker of 1,200 acres, Mae Tang and Chiang Dao Mountain tea plantation, currently producing Assam tea and Arabica coffee.
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Raming Tea becomes a pioneer of Thailand’s tea industry in 1941. Before transforming into international tea plantation known today, the business began as a community producing Miang tea leaves. Which are used for chewing. Consisting of almost six hundred villager, mostly Lahu and hill tribe, most of the laborers tend the tea and coffee plantation while elders remain at home weaving baskets and children are sent to the city to study. The villager remain conscious of the invaluable nature of the forest and are dedicated to its preservation. Aware that the forest is the source of the Ping or Mae Raming rivers, the villagers are ever mindful of abstaining from chemical fertilizers and have worked hard to integrate other beneficial plants and trees into the area such as avocado, pomelo, lychee, and macadamia which produce more shade, reduce water absorbency, and help provide consistent income throughout the year.
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Although the tea plantation is very large, the laborer at Raming Tea delicately pick each leaf by hand and forego the use of pollution-generating picking machine. Additionally, the environmentally conscious tea producer uses recyclable packing, even if it means an increase in overhead.
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Far from the conveniences of Chiang Mai, shopping for miscellaneous items necessary for daily life can be difficult and expensive for the plantation’s villagers. In an effort to ease financial burdens such as this, Raming Tea established a cooperative shop, and also lends financial support to the community’s social events, temple and school. Teenager are also encouraged to take pride in their community and practice a ‘love for their hometown’ by returning to their hometown to work and contribute to the community after graduation.
Jakarin said : “I grew up in this environment, so the people of this community feel like family and I feel responsible for taking care of them. Most of the villagers understand that we don’t want to destroy or cut down the forest since it is the river source.
Originally, when my grandfather first came to this area, it was a mobile plantation (threatening forest environments). Since then, things have improved and now it is a plantation among the forest.
“We were first Assam tea plantation in Thailand, King Bhumibol once visited our plantation. He knows better than anyone that Miang forest is the river source and we will continue to preserve it, and the wisdom of our ancestors.” |
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