At ALTALE, tea is not just a product — it’s a story that begins with the land and the hands that tend it. Our approach to tea cultivation is rooted in strong, transparent partnerships with Ugandan tea farmers — from smallholders in rural highlands to established tea estates.
We’re deeply involved in every step of the farming process to ensure that the tea we deliver to local and international markets is grown sustainably, harvested responsibly, and enriched by the people and communities behind it.
Here’s how the journey unfolds:
🍃 Step 1: Identifying Tea-Growing Communities & Building Relationships
We begin by mapping Uganda’s key tea-growing regions and engaging directly with farmers, cooperatives, and estate managers.
- Farmers are enrolled into the ALTALE network, complete with farm profiling and digital registration.
- We prioritize long-term partnerships based on transparency, quality focus, and community alignment.
- Geo-mapping and data collection ensure full traceability and performance tracking.
📘 Step 2: Agricultural Training & Capacity Building
Once on board, tea farmers receive ongoing support and education through ALTALE’s field training programs:
- Sustainable Agronomic Practices: Covering pruning, plucking cycles, and organic soil improvement.
- Climate Resilience Techniques: Including mulching, water conservation, and integrated pest management.
- Quality Focus: Farmers are trained to harvest at optimal times and handle green leaf to preserve freshness and quality.
- Farm Management Skills: From record-keeping to cost tracking, empowering farmers to treat their farms as viable businesses.
Our trained agronomists and field officers conduct seasonal workshops, on-site visits, and demo plots to ensure applied learning.
🧺 Step 3: Input Support & Yield Improvement
To maximize productivity and consistency, we support our tea farmers with the tools and inputs they need:
- High-Yielding, Climate-Resilient Seedlings: Supplied directly or through supported nurseries.
- Essential Farm Inputs: Including compost, bio-fertilizers, protective clothing, and harvesting baskets.
- Access to Finance: Through partnerships with financial institutions, farmers access affordable credit or input loans.
This ensures that farmers are not only growing more tea — they’re growing better tea.
💰 Step 4: Transparent Procurement & Guaranteed Market Access
Once the tea is plucked, ALTALE steps in to make sure it’s collected efficiently and fairly compensated.
- Green leaf is collected daily through our local collection centers or direct on-farm pickups.
- Every delivery is weighed and graded transparently, with real-time records kept for each farmer.
- Fast Payments: Farmers receive payments via mobile money or bank, with full clarity on deductions, if any.
- Quality Premiums: Farmers producing consistently high-grade leaf are rewarded with seasonal bonuses and recognition.
🌍 Step 5: Continuous Support & Community Upliftment
Beyond harvest season, we maintain a strong, year-round presence in the communities we serve.
- Field Officer Visits: Regular follow-ups to ensure ongoing improvement and farmer satisfaction.
- Community Investments: Where needed, we support rural infrastructure — from farm roads to water access points.
- Farmer Voice & Feedback: We maintain open communication channels so farmers can help shape how we grow together.
- Women & Youth Inclusion: We actively support inclusion of marginalized groups within the value chain.
At ALTALE, we believe that when farmers thrive, the entire tea ecosystem thrives. Our goal is not just to move tea — it’s to build a resilient, empowered, and respected network of tea producers that can meet global standards while benefiting local lives.