he Tea Rebel of Ilam: How a Widow's 1-Ropani Plot Challenged Global Giants : From Hand-Plucking Leaves to Exporting to Harrods - Durga's Organic Warfare
Durga Devi's calloused fingers have plucked over 2 million tea leaves since her husband's death left her with 0.3 acres and three hungry children. Rejecting chemical fertilizers pushed by corporations, she pioneered "bio-cha" - tea grown with Himalayan medicinal herbs. After 7 years of ridicule, her organic certification attracted Japanese buyers paying $120/kg. Today, her 87-women cooperative supplies Fortnum & Mason and trains farmers in 14 districts. The secret? Goat manure fermented with neem leaves and prayers whispered to each plant. "Big companies steal our soil's health," says Durga, whose "Living Tea" project has revived 1,200 acres of degraded land. Her latest battle? Patenting Nepal's rare tea varietals before foreign corporations claim them.
