Farming
Collective farming approach
Danu Nay-La produces coffee and green tea, as well as honey, macadamia nuts, and turmeric, in Danu region.
My father and I brought together farmers from four villages (Tatkone, Oat Dwin, Yay Chan Pyin, and Kyan Taw) to organize themselves into producer groups. This has shifted farmers from informal businesses with limited market information sharing, and price takers with no economies of scale, to a recognised farming entity.
Farmers can learn GAP and processing, as well as negotiate better terms of trade. We work through an elected village leader to coordinate and support the farmers. They also support the village to reach their goals, and improve their farming, businesses, education of their children and other needs.
We support the farmers with training and encourage them to adopt best agricultural and organic practices. Our organic certificate from Control Union has expired but we still apply the practices. We teach farmers to grow seedlings, prune, selectively harvest quality coffee, tea, macadamias, and to process coffee as naturals.
From our work, we have seen a big change in quality. Previously, farmers paid little attention to their crops, did not understand the importance of soils, did not prune, and harvested coffee cherries regardless of maturity, including stripping all red, green and black cherries. We are now on a golden pathway of change.
Our businesses are joined for better cherries, prices, and incomes for the farmers and our company. We can monitor the quality of raw products and identify key obstacles through quality control.
Danu Nay-La and the farmer groups offer a reflective and supportive learning environment. The groups can help individual farmers to gain confidence, knowledge and try out new practices. Often, these needs are more effectively undertaken by a group, for example, for soil fertility or erosion.
We support collective agricultural projects with a strong focus on including women and youth in decision making and solutions. For example, in 2019, we donated 8,000 coffee seedlings to farmers and helped with planting in Chin Taung region.
Danu coffee farmers
We work with 500 coffee farmers, though this varies from year to year. 200–300 are women and 400 youth. Each farmer has 200–800 Catuai coffee trees on their small, 0.8 ha plots producing vegetables (mustard, cabbage, tomato, sweet potato, and potato), and fruit (avocado, jackfruit, orange, lime, and grapefruit).
The coffee farmers harvest in the early morning from December to February. They selectively handpick the juicy, dark red coffee cherries, collecting them in their own handmade bamboo baskets. Weaving the baskets is a tradition passed down from generation to generation.
Our location
The highest mountain in southern Shan State lies in the Danu lands at 2,300 MSL. It is called Shae Myin A Nout Myin, meaning “view of views”.
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From our villages, we have a clear view of the mountain and its spectacular mountain lake, Nat Ya Kan (Angel Lake).
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Surrounding the lakes are over 100 native varieties of orchids growing wild. A very rare bamboo, Ta Pin Taing, grows here.
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At 1,800 MSL, the Taung Zalet flower grows, it is a very beautiful white and red flower with a delicate perfume.
Surrounding the mountain are ancient forests hundreds of years old, with many birds, deer, bears, and tigers.
Beekeepers also harvest the most delicious forest honey here. It is a very treasured and spiritual mountain.
As a child, my father enjoyed exploring this region. And he continues to feel responsible for this area, for conservation. We take this seriously; we are custodians of the land. My father and I believe as farmers we need to take responsibility for caring and protecting our ancient Danu lands.