Makaibari Tea Estate is one of the plantations in Darjeeling, West Bengal, which has converted to organic practices. Organic agriculture is an acknowledged farming practice, with both environmental and health-related benefits. However, workers’ direct experience of working at an organic tea estate differs. This study was investigating the organic awareness, level of work satisfaction and health among the workers of Makaibari Tea Estate. The aim was to examine what advantages the workers perceive, as well as what limitations there still are to achieve a good work environment. The method used was qualitative and data was collected by interviewing 31 people from six villages belonging to the tea estate. Thematic analysis was used when coding the data. The results show that there is a lack of knowledge and awareness about the meaning of organic, both in a broader perspective, as well as within the tea estate. Even if there is a knowledge deficiency about the organic practices of Makaibari Tea Estate, the workers were very positive about Makaibari being organic. Moreover, the workers of the tea estate had very few health issues with even less of them related to their work situation. The work satisfaction was high but the majority of workers worked unwillingly. To increase the knowledge and awareness of organic, accessible information from the company should be provided on regular basis. Secondly, the wage and the education level should be raised, in order to empower the people on the tea plantation.

The research was undertaken to investigate the impact of the Tshivhase Tea Estate on the space economy of Venda, the people and area ofMapate, and Duthuni, among whom the Tea Estate is established. The approach is based on principles. Principles of development theory are combined with appropriate spatial models. The development reality of Venda, together with many other development projects are analysed. Does the tea estate address the rural poverty problem? Findings are presented from a case study of Tshivhase and this proved the lack of growth and development impulses to alleviate the poverty of the rural people among whom it is located. Development is considered in terms of its possible simultaneous diffusion of economic activity and modernisation in all four dimensions of the spatial system : political, socio-cultural, economic and physical. / Department of Geography / M.A. (Geography)

The research was undertaken to investigate the impact of the Tshivhase Tea Estate on the space economy of Venda, the people and area ofMapate, and Duthuni, among whom the Tea Estate is established. The approach is based on principles. Principles of development theory are combined with appropriate spatial models. The development reality of Venda, together with many other development projects are analysed. Does the tea estate address the rural poverty problem? Findings are presented from a case study of Tshivhase and this proved the lack of growth and development impulses to alleviate the poverty of the rural people among whom it is located. Development is considered in terms of its possible simultaneous diffusion of economic activity and modernisation in all four dimensions of the spatial system : political, socio-cultural, economic and physical. / Department of Geography / M.A. (Geography)