Tea bud prices increase, farmers excited to stay on the hills

Thanh Chuong farmers harvest spring tea. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Having been attached to tea trees for decades, tea prices fluctuate erratically with each crop, but continuously from 2020 until now, due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, tea exports have encountered difficulties.fresh tea bud priceThere was a time when it "hit rock bottom", there was a case where Mr. Luong Van Vien's family in Thanh Mai commune (Thanh Chuong) accepted a loss. However, in recent days, the current priceTea is on the rise again so he is very excited.

Mr. Vien said: “My family has nearly 10 hectares of tea that are in harvest season. Before, the price of tea was low, only 2,500 - 2,700 VND/kg, while the price of fertilizer, gasoline increased, and labor costs also increased, so growers suffered losses. Now, the price of tea is on the rise, we are excited because we can recover the capital and start making a profit. Hopefully, in the coming time, the export market will improve, the output will be stable, and people will feel secure to stay on the hill to take care of the trees.”

This year's spring tea harvest is good, people are excited. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Spring tea cropThis year, the tea crop is good, the purchase price is on the rise, farmers are actively staying on the hills to harvest tea on time, ensuring quality.

Mr. Bui Tuan Dai - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Thanh Mai Commune (Thanh Chuong) said: "Tea is the main crop of Thanh Mai people. Currently, the whole commune has 346 hectares of tea being harvested. According to estimates, this spring tea crop, the whole commune's tea output reached 5,540 tons of fresh tea buds. In the commune, there are 8 workshops processing and purchasing fresh tea buds for people. Currently, the price of tea being purchased by the workshops fluctuates from 3,500 - 4,100 VND/kg (depending on the type). With this price, tea growers can make a profit in the context of high prices of materials and fertilizers."

The export price of dry tea is gradually increasing, so the price of fresh tea buds is also on the rise, tea growers are starting to make a profit. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Currently, people of theraw tea growing areasIn Thanh Chuong, Anh Son, Con Cuong districts... it is the spring tea harvest season. In all the hilly areas, people are actively harvesting, trucks come to the place to buy, people harvest as much as they sell. Currently, the price of tea in growing areas in Thanh Chuong district is fluctuating from 3,500-4,100 VND/kg; other areas such as Anh Son, Con Cuong fluctuate from 3,200-3,600 VND/kg. With this price, people have started to make a profit.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Phan in village 6, Hung Son commune (Anh Son) said: “Compared to last year's spring tea crop and the beginning of this year's crop, the price of tea has increased by 500 VND/kg. But the price of fertilizer has continuously increased, the price of gasoline has increased, so the cost of renting harvesting machines has also increased, pushing up the cost of products. The price of tea buds has not increased as fast as the price of materials. Therefore, people still do not have much profit. Only when the price of tea reaches 3,500 VND or more will farmers be able to ensure profit.”

Tea factories increase capacity and mobilize workers to process and sell fresh tea buds to people. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Although the tea price has not increased sharply, it is not as expected, but it is also a positive signal, helping people feel secure in investing in tea trees. Along with that, tea factories have also provided a lot of support to "share difficulties" with people during the period when tea prices are still unstable like now. Specifically, supporting people to advance capital to reinvest in tea trees; planning to support fuel money for people to invest in watering tea in the upcoming dry season... Many localities coordinate with tea growing associations, purchasing and processing facilities to encourage growers to stay on the hills to take care of and harvest; supporting loans through entrusted channels... so that people can stabilize the area of ​​raw tea and continue to plant new tea areas.

In particular, to create sustainable output for tea products and increase people's income, many places are actively encouraging people to change production practices, switch to organic tea care, and buildtea growing area according to VietGAP standards, creating safe raw material areas.

Planning organic tea growing areas according to VietGAP standards is attracting attention from localities. Photo: Thanh Phuc

“Currently, the markets of many countries are very strict in importing dry tea, many tea factories are purchasing tea buds at different prices, according to the tea classification. If the tea is cared for organically, meets the criteria of cleanliness, safety, and low pesticide residue, it will be purchased at a high price; but if the tea does not meet the quality standards, it will not be purchased. This is a positive signal for people to change their production thinking.

The district will accompany people in building safe tea growing areas such as: training on the process of planting and caring for tea trees according to VietGAP standards, planning growing areas; coordinating with businesses and processing factories to create stable output for VietGAP tea trees; finding partners to consume and deeply process green tea products...", said Mr. Tran Phi Hung - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thanh Chuong district.