The success of a pilot project of growing Shan Tuyet tea trees hasprovided a feasible solution to sustainable poverty-alleviation forethnic groups in the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang.
The project began in 2000 in Na Hang district, where sloping andmountainous terrains pose difficulties to agricultural and forestryproduction.
“We have tried all sorts of plantsbefore, but none of them could grow on this sloping land. Luckily, theShan Tuyet tea trees survived and grow well despite the drought, so itbecame the main crop here,” said Hoang Van Linh, chairman of Sinh Longcommune’s People’s Committee.
The four targetcommunes of Sinh Long, Hong Thai, Thuong Nong and Son Phu have now putover 1,100 ha of land under Shan Tuyet tea trees. Sinh Long commune hasthe largest area with more than 800 hectares.
According to Linh, all the land area previously left uncultivated hasnow been covered by the tea trees. Many local households in the localhave risen above poverty thanks to the trees, he said.
Before 2000, Sinh Long was the poorest commune in the district withthe rate of poverty among its households hitting 80 percent. Now, thisrate has dropped to 40 percent.
Hoang Phin, a localDao ethnic farmer said he began to harvest tea buds three years afterplanting, and his family harvested over 7 tonnes of tea buds each yearfrom their 20 ha of Shan Tuyet trees, earning over 50 million VND(approximate 2,500 USD).
In addition, this kind oftea fetches a higher price than those grown in lower land, as the tealeaves are thick and green, with big and white buds, hence the name ofTuyet (snow). One kilogramme of fresh Shan Tuyet tea buds is pricedat 8,000-12,000 VND, higher than the prices of other kinds of tea from3,000-6,000 VND.
All Shan Tuyet tea harvests in thedistrict are bought by Viet Dung tea processing company, which installeda modern production line with a capacity of one tonne of tea leaves perday in 2009.
The tea tree has brought aboutgreat changes in Na Hang district’s economic structure. The districtauthorities are encouraging other communes to research their soilconditions with a view to expanding the acreage of Shan Tuyet tea trees.-VNA
The project began in 2000 in Na Hang district, where sloping andmountainous terrains pose difficulties to agricultural and forestryproduction.
“We have tried all sorts of plantsbefore, but none of them could grow on this sloping land. Luckily, theShan Tuyet tea trees survived and grow well despite the drought, so itbecame the main crop here,” said Hoang Van Linh, chairman of Sinh Longcommune’s People’s Committee.
The four targetcommunes of Sinh Long, Hong Thai, Thuong Nong and Son Phu have now putover 1,100 ha of land under Shan Tuyet tea trees. Sinh Long commune hasthe largest area with more than 800 hectares.
According to Linh, all the land area previously left uncultivated hasnow been covered by the tea trees. Many local households in the localhave risen above poverty thanks to the trees, he said.
Before 2000, Sinh Long was the poorest commune in the district withthe rate of poverty among its households hitting 80 percent. Now, thisrate has dropped to 40 percent.
Hoang Phin, a localDao ethnic farmer said he began to harvest tea buds three years afterplanting, and his family harvested over 7 tonnes of tea buds each yearfrom their 20 ha of Shan Tuyet trees, earning over 50 million VND(approximate 2,500 USD).
In addition, this kind oftea fetches a higher price than those grown in lower land, as the tealeaves are thick and green, with big and white buds, hence the name ofTuyet (snow). One kilogramme of fresh Shan Tuyet tea buds is pricedat 8,000-12,000 VND, higher than the prices of other kinds of tea from3,000-6,000 VND.
All Shan Tuyet tea harvests in thedistrict are bought by Viet Dung tea processing company, which installeda modern production line with a capacity of one tonne of tea leaves perday in 2009.
The tea tree has brought aboutgreat changes in Na Hang district’s economic structure. The districtauthorities are encouraging other communes to research their soilconditions with a view to expanding the acreage of Shan Tuyet tea trees.-VNA
