Plantation Portfolio

Key Crops:

• Tea (Orthodox, Green, White, Speciality Variants)
• Rubber (High-quality latex, RSS sheets, block rubber)
• Minor crops: Cardamom, Coffee, Cocoa, Pineapple, Pepper

Locations

Head Office:

• Cochin

Tea Estates:

• Tamil Nadu: Nilgiris (Wentworth Estate)
• Kerala: Idukki District (Lockhart, Panniar, Moongalar, Wallardie, Pattumalay Estates)

Rubber Estates:

• Kerala: Thrissur, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam Districts

Target Markets

Tea:

• Exported to markets in the Middle East, Europe, and Japan.

Rubber:

• Mostly consumed domestically, with key export markets in North, East, and West India.

Production Capacity

• Tea: 6,000 MT/annum
• Rubber: 10,000 MT/annum

How is Tea Processed in the Factories After Harvesting

How is Rubber Processed From Latex

Facts About Growing Tea and Rubber

• Growing Conditions:
  • Both tea and rubber are perennial crops requiring well-drained soils, undulating terrain, adequate rainfall, sunshine, and balanced nutrition.
  • Tea is maintained as a bonsai through pruning, while rubber grows up to 25-30 ft.
• Planting:
  • Tea bushes are planted densely (up to 14,000 per hectare), while rubber trees are planted at 500 per hectare.
  • Modern clones are used based on topography, soil, and climate.‍
• Immature Phase
  
  • Tea: Takes 3-5 years to mature; productive for 100+ years, though replanting is needed after 25-30 years.
  • Rubber: Takes 7-8 years to mature, with an economic life of 25-30 years.

• Harvesting:
  • Tea: Leaves (2-3 and a bud) are carefully plucked, avoiding damage, and processed into variants like green and white tea. Processing involves withering, rolling, fermentation, drying, and sorting. Strict hygiene ensures quality (SAILV rating).
  • Rubber: Trees are tapped when the girth reaches 50 cm. Latex is collected using a predetermined tapping chart and preserved with ammonia before processing.
• Processing:
• ‍Tea:
  • Graded by size, infusion, and liquor quality, then sold via auctions, direct sales, or exports.

• Rubber
  • Latex is concentrated (60% dry content) for high-quality goods or coagulated into RSS sheets and block rubber. All grades undergo rigorous BIS and ISO testing.

• HML produces premium tea and rubber, meeting domestic and international quality standards. Rubber is used for high-grade industrial applications globally.

How are Tea and Rubber Distributed

• Tea:
  • Tea sales are controlled by the Tea Board and mostly exported.
  • Products are certified under Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, Trustea, and other global standards.
  • Single-origin teas are popular internationally due to their safety and quality.
  • Teas are distributed via auctions, direct exports, and packed sales.
• Rubber:
  • Sold domestically under licenses issued by the Rubber Board.
  • Markets include major industrial centres in North, West, and East India.
  • Sales depend on macroeconomic factors like crude oil prices and geopolitical issues.
  • Institutional and direct buyer sales ensure market reach and price optimisation.

• Both products undergo rigorous testing and comply with global safety standards.

Where and How Are The Products Sold?

Tea:

• 50% of production is sold via auctions as mandated by the Tea Board of India. Auctions involve traders, retailers, and packers, with pricing based on tea quality, market demand, and other factors.
• Direct exports are a major channel, with key buyers including Unilever (UK), Twinings (UK), Marubeni (Japan), and others in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
• Products are also sold through HML's outlets and online platforms.

Rubber:

• Primarily sold domestically through agents and directly to industries. HML specialises in premium grades of rubber, including niche products like deproteinised rubber, nitrosamine-free rubber, and pale latex crepe.
• A limited quantity is exported to countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Turkey, Germany, and Brazil.
• Rubber is sold ex-factory, regulated by the Rubber Board, and subject to market factors like supply-demand dynamics and geopolitical influences.

Did You Know?

• Tea:
• Harvest intervals are calculated based on how much the leaves have grown, which is influenced by the weather conditions. Fields are digitally monitored, and battery-operated machines (used by 60% of workers) improve efficiency. Robotic harvesters are also being trialled.

• Rubber:
• Low-frequency tapping (every 4 days) ensures sustainable yields and tree longevity. Tapping schedules are monitored using charts and the Harvest Area Index (HAI).
• Early morning tapping ensures optimum harvest and quality and the work of harvesting starts as early at 2 A.M using headlights as light source. Hence it is called "headlight tapping."

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Promoting Tea Tourism

HML also promotes tea tourism in several ways. The company enables travellers to experience the charm of South India's tea plantation legacy. Set in lush estates like Pattumalay (Thekkady), Lockhart (Munnar), and Wentworth (Nilgiris-Wayanad), it offers guided factory tours, exclusive tastings, tea trails, and treks. Guests can enjoy heritage stays in colonial-era bungalows, blending history with modern comfort. Rooted in the serene Western Ghats, Harrisons Heritage celebrates tradition and sustainability, making every stay a memorable experience.

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Sustainable Practices of HML

Equal Wages:

• Men and women receive equal pay, with 60% of the workforce being women, boosting rural development.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM):

• Reduces chemical use, improves soil and water health, and supports biodiversity.

Soil and Water Management:

• Soil health analysis and input application based on replenishment principles.
• Controlled lime application and organic carbon buildup for balanced soil pH.

Contour Planting and No-Tillage Agriculture:

• Minimises erosion and runoff.
• Uses soak pits in rubber plantations for water storage.

Cover Crops and Interplanting:

• Retains soil moisture, prevents erosion, and improves soil fertility while increasing biodiversity and income opportunities

Biodiversity Preservation:

• Combines tea farming with trees to create healthy ecosystems and protect against monoculture risks.

‍Community Engagement:

• Supports local health, education, and infrastructure for better living standards.

Carbon Footprint Reduction:

• Use of battery-operated machines and exploration of renewable energy.
• Optimised logistics to reduce emissions.

Waste Management:

• Recycling, composting tea waste, and eliminating disposable plastics.

Certifications:

• Compliance with Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, Trustea, and other eco-labels.

Sustainable Harvesting:

• Use of mechanical harvesting to protect plants and ensure long-term productivity.

Training and Skill Development:

• Focused programs for workers on sustainable farming, skill enhancement, and integration of migrants.

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Notable Awards and Recognitions of HML

• Golden Leaf Awards 2024: Lockhart Tea won in the Whole Leaf and Broken categories.
• CII-5 Star EHS Award: Recognised for excellence in environment, health, and safety.
• International Hong Kong Tea Fair: Moongalaar Tea (CTC) won accolades.
• TOFT Tigers Wildlife Tourism Award 2019: Recognised for wildlife conservation.
• Trustea Certification: First tea estate in South India to achieve this certification.
• Green Protocol Award: Mundakayam estate honoured for conservation and waste management efforts.
• HML Bio-Log: First-ever biodiversity mapping of flora and fauna in plantations.
• Core Value Award 2024-25: Awarded by RPSG Group for sustainability efforts.
• Tea Estate Digitization: First to digitise field operations and resource planning.
• AIOE National Award for Outstanding Industrial Relations 2020-21: Recognised for excellence in industrial relations in the Medium Enterprises (Manufacturing Sector).

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