In order to produce much better tea, proper and efficient management of tea plantations is required. Such management needs “proper action in the best time”. Although essential procedures has been established to cultivate and produce loose leaf tea, there are almost infinite selections to carry out the best way suit for each changeable condition.
Farmers has been improving the skill to manage tea plantations by learning a lot.
In the middle of February, highly-motivated tea farmers in Kikusui tea production cooperative conducted an observation survey of their tea plantations. The aim of this survey is mutual sophistication of plantation management technique.
At first, the consultant Mr.Tani, belonging to federation of JA-group in Shizuoka, explained the desirable condition of tea plants and how to check the status. Members of Kikusui observed and checked their tea plantations based on the standard.
Members in Kikusui Tea Production Cooperative share the standard to check the condition of tea plantation.
They went around their tea gardens, which distribute various locations such as mountainside, slope area of Makinohara upland, flat part of Makinohara upland, as shown in the follows.
Tea plantations located on the slopeside of mountains or Makinohara upland.
Tea plantations located on the flat area of Makinohara upland.
All of them are in very good society and share information each other. However, there are still difference in the condition among their tea plantations. They aim to maintain every tea plantations on highly managed status. For this purpose, they are going to continue studying and improving the management of tea plantation.
At the biginning of this week they shared the results of observation survey and discussed how to make their tea plantations much better.
The meeting for feedback of survey results. As a consultant, Mr. Tani advised some points to improve the management of tea plantations. Members of Kikusui Tea Production Cooperative discussed the way to sophisticate the skill of plantation management.
I hope to enjoy the much more marverous quality of their tea, such as “Emerald drop” of Tsuyuhikari, “KAGAYAKI” green tea and “KOHAKU” black tea.