Project name: Skill Development for Quality Tea Production

Supported by: Dakchyata: TVET Practical Partnership

Funded by: The European Union

Managed by: The British Council

Name of implementing organization: Central Tea Cooperative Federation Ltd. Nepal

Address: Ilam Municipality - 7, Ilam District, Province No. 1

About Project:

CTCF aims to address the existing big skill shortage in tea sector in Nepal, particularly skills on tea cultivation and management, tea technician, tea processing and testing, and proper packaging and marketing. Occupational skill testing has not yet started in this sector. There are 140 registered tea gardens; and 98 small, 29 big orthodox, 28 big CTC and 31 cooperative-run tea processing factories in Nepal who do not have adequate skilled human resources. More than 18 thousand households are dependent on this sector for their living. There is an increase in tea cultivation and production every year, but there is no supply of skilled human resources to meet the demand. Very limited has been done so far to produce skilled human resources and skill certification in tea sector. There is no institution in Nepal to teach tea cultivation, management and processing technology. Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board (NTCDB) is more focused on policy formulation and managerial support. CTEVT has developed training curriculum on “Tea Plantation and Management” in 2002 and “Assistant Tea Technician” in 2008 and further revised in 2014 but no training and skill tasting has been conducted in this sector. That addresses the skill level on tea cultivation processing, value addition such as packaging and marketing skill training and certification provides training graduates the opportunity for employment in the tea sector business and also opportunity for self-employment particularly for tea farmers and cooperative members. They are looking cultivation and processing related skill human resource which needs full fill through advanced tea technical training graduate. In this regards, CTCF Nepal has received grants to implement project entitled “Skill Development for Quality Tea Production” supported by Dakchyata which is funded by the EU) and managed by the British Council (p). The main objectives of the project is to generate better self/employment opportunities and increase productivity of tea through providing skill training and skill certification to the tea farmers, tea factory owners and workers, farmers living in and around the tea cultivation areas, and tea cooperative members.

The Dakchyata: TVET Practical Partnership is a skills development programme, which operates across three industry sectors in Nepal: agriculture, tourism and construction. Dakchyata is a four-year project, which runs from 2017 to 2021, and is part of the overarching TVET PP programme funded by the European Union, and managed by the British Council under the leadership of Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) in partnership with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) in Nepal. The main aim of the project is to strengthen the implementation of more effective policy in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, responsive to labour market needs. The programme will pilot an integrated Public Private Partnership Approach in three key economic sectors i) agriculture ii) construction, iii) tourism, offering opportunities for promoting the transition to a greener, climate-resilient, low-emission economy.

Objectives

• To provide skill training to 300 tea farmers, cooperative members and tea factory workers by developing training curriculum and Occupational Skill Standards
• To enhance capacity of CTCF and its implementation partner (F-SKILL Pvt. Ltd) and improve working relationship with tea farmers/producers, local tea cooperatives, tea industries/factories and other relevant stakeholders.
• To document and share best practices and learnings, pilot testing of innovations and improve visibility of project implementation and its impact.

Project Activities:

• Conduct Assistant Tea Technician Training (Level 1) to farmers, cooperative members and tea workers in the existing as well as new tea extension areas following CTEVT curriculum. Revise the curriculum if needed.
• Design, develop and publish Assistant Tea Technician Reference Book
• Facilitate training graduates to appear in CTEVT/NSTB skill tests and receive Skill Certificate
• Conduct life skills training to all training participants
• Facilitate career counseling and entrepreneurship development training to all the training participants.
• Conduct public awareness campaign about the training and importance of skilled human resources for quality tea production through social media, publication, websites and interaction meetings.
• Document and share best practices and learning to relevant stakeholders.
• Develop roster of trainer under the Training and Education Sub-Committee of CTCF to ensure continue and effective service delivery to the tea sector stakeholders at the grassroots level.
• Reporting and publication/sharing of best practices and lesson learned to the wider audience of tea sector in Nepal
• Reporting and publication/sharing of best practices and lesson learned to the wider audience of tea sector in Nepal

Project coverage area:

• Ilam District: Ilam, Suryodaya, Deumai and Mai Municipality; Maijogmai, Phakphokthum, Rong, Chulachuli, Mangesbung and Sandakpur Rural Municipality
• Panchthar: Phidim Municipality; Hilihang, Falgunanda, Falelung and Yangbarak Rural Municipality
• Taplejung: Phungling Municipality
• Jhapa: Mechinagar, Bhadrapur and Birtamod Municipality; Haldibaari and Buddhashanti Rural Municipality
• Morang: Kerabari Municipality
• Dhankuta: Pakhribaas and Dhankuta Municipality; Chaubise Rural Municipality,
• Tehrathum: Myanglung and Laligurans Municipality; Chhathar, Phedaap, and Menchyam Rural Municipality
• Udayapur: Triyuga Municipality
• Sankhuwasabha: Dharmadevi, Chainpur Municipality
• Bhojpur: Bhojpur Municipality
• Ramechhap:  Manthali Municipality
• Lalitpur: Mahankal, Bagmati, Kunjasum Rural Municipality

Project Duration: 15 months (1^st Aug. 2020 to 28^th Dec. 2021) 

Budget: