Spring tea bud prices increase, Nghe An farmers excited to harvest

Farmers in Thanh Son commune (Thanh Chuong) harvest spring tea. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Having just finished cutting and selling the first spring tea crop, Mr. Luong Van Phuong (Tan Hop village, Thanh Son commune, Thanh Chuong district) was very excited when this harvest, the total output of more than 5 tons of fresh tea buds was purchased by traders right on the hill at a price of 4,300 VND/kg (an increase of 700 VND/kg compared to the spring tea crop in 2022 and an increase of more than 1,000 VND compared to last year's tea crop).

Mr. Phuong said: “With this price, after deducting expenses, the profit is more than 10 million VND/ha/harvest. The first spring tea crop (also known as the “blind” tea crop) has low productivity, the tea is not as beautiful, and the quality is not as good as the next crop, so traders also buy it at a lower price. However, the price of tea at the beginning of this year is relatively high, so people are very excited because they have made a profit.”

Mr. Luong Van Phuong (Tan Hop village, Thanh Son commune, Thanh Chuong district) has just finished harvesting the first batch of spring tea. Photo: Thanh Phuc

As the main crop of the locality, in recent days, farmers in Thanh Thuy commune (Thanh Chuong) have completed the harvesting of the “blind-breaking” tea crop so that the tea plants can enjoy the spring sunshine, grow faster and stronger, and be ready for the main harvest of the year. Although not highly appreciated for its quality, people are very excited about this batch of tea as the price has increased compared to last year.

Ms. Vo Thi Lai, Head of the Professional Farmers Association of "Growing and caring for organic and safe tea in Ngoc Lam village" said: "The whole commune has 566.1 hectares of tea for business, of which, Ngoc Lam village alone has over 200 hectares of tea. The first tea crop of the spring crop, the yield reached 3 tons/ha, the selling price at the beginning of the season was 4,000 VND/kg, now up to 4,500 VND/kg (700 - 1,000 VND/kg higher than previous years). Currently, the price of tea buds is gradually increasing, the beautiful tea has increased to 4,800 VND - 5,000 VND/kg".

Tea prices increase, farmers make profits, stay on the hills to harvest. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Currently, tea processing factories in Hanh Lam, Thanh Mai, Thanh Huong... are focusing on purchasing tea from farmers at prices ranging from 4,000 - 5,000 VND/kg (depending on the type). With this price, growers have a good income.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, owner of Duong Huong tea factory (Hanh Lam commune, Thanh Chuong) said: "On average, each hectare of tea yields about 4-5 tons. If well cared for, it can reach 6 tons/batch. With a tea price of 4,500 VND/kg, the revenue is about 20 million VND/ha. After deducting the cost of fertilizer, labor, and cutting machine rental, the profit is about 10 million VND/ha/batch. Currently, the price of nitrogen fertilizer is falling sharply (nearly half compared to last year), so tea growers have quite a profit."

Tea prices purchased by processing factories range from 4,000 VND - 4,800 VND/kg. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to Ms. Huong, the price of tea buds has increased this time because the export market has improved a lot. Since after Tet until now, her factory alone has exported 6 containers, clearing all the remaining tea from last year. Currently, the factory is purchasing all the tea buds for local people, and is ready with machinery and workers to process tea.

According to a survey, tea prices in Quy Hop and Anh Son districts are lower than in Thanh Chuong, ranging from 3,500 VND - 4,000 VND/kg, but compared to last year, they are 5,000 - 7,000 VND/kg higher.

The thriving tea export market has pushed up the price of tea buds. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Tran Duc Chau, a tea grower in Hung Son (Anh Son) said: “My family grows 2.25 hectares of tea for business, including 1.75 hectares of 10th-year tea and 0.5 hectares of 3rd-year tea. The first harvest yielded 6.5 tons, imported to the Lam River sugar factory at a price of 4,000 VND/kg. The tea harvested “broke the fog” at this price, which is higher than previous years. Hopefully, when the tea enters the main harvest, the price will increase further.”

Currently, local people are urgently harvesting the first batch of tea in the spring crop, with a yield of 3-4 tons of tea buds/ha, high tea prices, and after deducting expenses, people earn a profit of 10-12 million VND/ha.

After the "blind breaking" tea crop will be the main tea crop of the year, this is the tea crop with the highest quality, yield and value of the year. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In order to achieve high productivity and quality in spring tea, people proactively cut the stems and branches on schedule, fertilized, and prevented diseases. Thanks to that, this year's tea bud yield is higher than last year, and tea prices have increased, so people are excited to stay on the hills to harvest, care for, and regenerate tea trees.