Ha Giang (VNA) – Experts gathered at a workshop on December 23 to discuss ways to develop the tea sector in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang.
The event was jointly organised by the provincial People’s Committee, the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) and the Department of Cultivation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Participants focused on effective tea cultivation methods to help improve farmers’ incomes in the ethnic minority community.
They also discussed ways to strengthen connections among stakeholders to enhance the value of local tea products.
The province aims to produce 120 tonnes of fresh tea per year by 2020 and become one of the largest tea producers, processors and exporters in the country.
Ha Giang has nearly 20,500 hectares of tea plantations, the third largest area in the nation. The majority is covered by the “Shan tuyet” variety which has been shipped to 25 nations around the world.
According to the province’s plan for agriculture restructuring from 2015-2020, tea has been selected as one of its key products.
The province has devised numerous incentives to develop brand names for local tea, contributing to poverty reduction and hunger eradication among local ethnic minorities.
In 2011, Cao Bo tea in Vi Xuyen district successfully met organic production regulations issued by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements.
More than 200 tonnes of local organic tea are exported to Europe and the US every year.-VNa