Rungwe Smallholders Tea Growers Association (RSTGA) was incorporated on 12th May, 1998 as a Non Governmental and Non Profit Making Organization (NGO) under Tanzania Societies ordinance of 1954, and later registered under new Non-Governmental Organization Act, 2002 with Certificate of Compliance No. 1804. Currently RSTGA has approximately 15,000 members, spread out over 108 villages. All members are smallholders, each of them owning less than half a hectare of land.

RSTGA is a registered member of FLO-Cert GmbH with FLO Contract ID: No. 563

OBJECTIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION

1. To deal with Agricultural expansion of Tea Industry in Rungwe District by    emphasizing on the application of modern methods of agriculture in order to Improve production yield of green leaf and income of the farmers.
2. To provide training to the small farmers on best farming practice so as to improve Tea production and Quality.
3. To work in collaboration with Tea Research Institute of Tanzania (TRIT) with the view of improving tea production and crop yield.
4. To collect statistical data and information from various sources in respect of Tea production and to disseminate the same to the farmers.
5. To bargain prices for Green Leaf.
6. To initiate development Projects in order to alleviate Poverty.
   
   

RUNGWE SMALLHOLDERS TEA DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND

In 2002, RSTGA setup a subsidiary for the ownership of WATCO. This subsidiary is the Rungwe Smallholders Tea Development Trust Fund (TRUST). In the period 2002 – 2006, the TRUST undertook a number of investments and business initiatives. The current activities of the TRUST are: -

1. Investments in Wakulima Tea Company Ltd.

RSTGA owns 30% shares of Wakulima Tea Company Ltd. (WATCO), Tanzanian Tea Packers (TATEPA) owns 70% . WATCO owns two tea-processing factories in Katumba and in Mwakaleli. The factory in Katumba has been renovated and is in full operation. The factory in Mwakaleli is currently idle.  Two members present RSTGA on the Company board of WATCO while TATEPA has five members. Wakulima Tea Company Ltd Company manages the day-to-day management of Katumba factory.

It has outsourced the services of hauling of Green Leaf from the farmers in the Villages to the factory to Jilanjo Company Ltd. 
Tea Research Institute of Tanzania(TRIT) provide extension services.

2. Investments in Cafédirect Producers Trust, based in London, UK. Cafédirect is the   prime fair trade partner of RSTGA
   
   
3. “Chai Yako” – the tea label of the RSTGA
   
   
4. “Rungwe Tea & Tours” – our Community Based Tourism program
   
   
5. “ADF Project” - improving accessibility of farmer inputs to our farmers by providing credit facilities to our farmers

MEMBERSHIP

RSTGA is a joint effort of 15,000 Smallholders growing tea. As a membership fee, farmers pay T.Shs 2/= per kilogram of green leaves they produce.

At present tea is grown on 3000 hectares. We intend to expand up to 5000 hectares. Every farmer of the RSTGA is also a shareholder in the TRUST. Farmers buy shares by cash payments and by contributing T.Shs 5/= per kilogram of green leaves they produce.