The images of the most different natural disasters throughout the world do not come to an end. Barely ten months after the Tsunami catastrophe hit Asia, where also Naturland members in Sri Lanka were affected, in 2005 hurricanes in Central America destroyed the livelihoods of many Naturland peasant farmers in Mexico and Guatemala. In view of these and other disasters and the millions of people affected, all other things seem meaningless and the powerlessness of the single person is manifested. Scientists are still arguing about causes and effects, meanwhile most farmers throughout the world are conscious of the climatic change happening already and that they are one of the first to suffer the consequences. Naturland appeals for donations to support the affected Naturland members. Unfortunately this help can not relieve all needs, but it is a gesture of solidarity and gratefully welcomed by the affected members. In the same way as the positive effects of organic agriculture to which you all are contributing world-wide is of inestimable value to all people. In this spirit Naturland will continue its work on behalf of its members and promote organic agriculture throughout the world.

Early October Hurricane Stan left a trail of destruction through great parts of Mexico and Central America. The torrential rains caused widespread and severe flooding and mud slides More than 1.000 deaths, ten thousands shelter less and hundred thousands of directly affected people were reported. According to the reports presented to Naturland until now one family member of a Naturland farmer died, several were injured. More than 5.000 of our members, meaning a third of all Naturland members in Mexico were affected by the hurricane. Naturland’s farmers, their families and friends responded to our appeal for donations after the destruction wrought by Hurricane Stan in Mexico. The donations amounted to € 8,250, equivalent to 116,340 pesos. Many thanks to the donors!!
This aid will be used to reconstruct the reprocessing plants for organic coffee, to purchase coffee processing machines and for reconstruction and transport material.

Peermade is a small town in the mountains of Kerala in Southern India. The people in Peermade live on agriculture, most of them farm between one and five hectares of land on which they produce food for self-sufficiency and spices such as pepper, vanilla and cardamom in mixed cultivation. Besides spices some of the small farmers produce tea which up to now they have been selling to neighbouring tea factories - at low prices and without any purchase guarantee. The existing tea factories buy only tea leaves from the small holders, if the own production in their teagardens isn't sufficient for the processing capacity of the tea factory.. For this reason more than 1000 small farmers of the region round Peermade lay all their hope in a new built factory: The Sahyadri Small Farmer Tea Factory. This new production site is especially because of its impressing technology and the using of high quality raw materials on the best way to meet all the requirements of becoming a highly recommended producer of organic tea.
For more than three years the farmers are now preparing themselves to be able to meet all the required standard that come along with the production of certified organic tea. The training was organised by Peermade development Society and supported by Naturland. The farmers founded the Sahyadri Farmers consortium and are herewith the owner of the organic factory.

On the 28th of November 2003 the Peermade Development Society (PDS) could celebrate the inauguration of the Organic Tea Factory situated within the beautiful landscape of the Western Ghats in Kerala/India.. The factory starts with a production of 600t made tea per year. The total costs of the project was 900.000 EURO. Naturland was able to achieve partial financing of an amount of 400.000 EURO for the purchase of machinery for tea processing funded by the European Union. 75% of this amount are financed directly by the EU. The 25% has been financed by other funding.

The funding was a lot of work for Naturland and is a big success for all the small famres in Kerala. It was only possible because a lot of Naturland farmers and friends have supported this idea with their financial help. It is a project which is carried by Naturland farmers in the North for Naturland farmers in the South. A lot of help came as well from other international organisations. “Familienpartner Kerala” from Austria funded more than a third of the remaining 100.000.- EURO. Organisations from UK, the “Eco und Fair Verein” and the “Zukunftsstiftung Entwicklungshilfe” have given a big support.

Thank you very much!