Why did Thanh Chuong resettled people turn their backs on tea trees?

(Baonghean.vn) - In Thanh Chuong, tea is considered an industrial crop that brings high economic efficiency, creating a stable source of income for the people. However, recently, people in the resettlement areas of Ngoc Lam and Thanh Huong are no longer interested in growing tea, some households even destroy tea trees to plant acacia.

Realizing the economic efficiency of tea, from 2012 to now, Ms. Luong Thi Lien's family in Muong village, Ngoc Lam commune has grown 10 sao of tea both in the home garden and on the hillside garden. Ms. Lien said that growing tea is not hard, after 2 years of planting, it can be harvested. Currently, they harvest once a month, 10 sao of tea can be harvested more than 2 tons. With the current retail price on the market from 32-38 thousand/kg, each month the family earns 6.5 million VND from tea.

Thanks to growing raw tea, Ms. Luong Thi Lien's family life in Muong village, Ngoc Lam commune has become more prosperous.

“Thanks to growing tea, my family’s life is stable. Compared to other crops, tea is more economically efficient. However, tea grown in the home garden grows better because of the guaranteed water supply. On the other hand, growing tea on the hill has lower productivity because it depends on irrigation water, especially in the dry season, which is very difficult,” Ms. Lien shared.

For the past 4 years, raw tea trees have taken root in the resettlement area of ​​Ngoc Lam, Thanh Huong, Thanh Chuong district. With many policies and support mechanisms, the local government has encouraged people to actively grow raw tea trees, creating a sustainable source of income.

Mr. Ngan Dinh Dung's (wearing hat) 4-year-old tea garden has not been invested in and cared for.

In 2014 alone, Ngoc Lam and Thanh Huong communes planted 200 hectares of new tea. Many households have become more prosperous thanks to growing tea, such as Mr. Luong Van Phuong, Luong Van Than, and Cut Van Hoi...

However, in the past two years, the tea growing area in the resettlement area has not only not been expanded but has also decreased by 30 hectares. Many households have turned their backs on tea, even abandoning or destroying tea to plant acacia trees.

Explaining the reason for the decrease in tea area in Thanh Chuong resettlement area, local authorities said that severe drought in the past 2 years has killed many tea growing areas. In addition, the implementation of support policies is slow, while the basic construction time of tea trees is 2 years before they can be harvested, plus the initial cost and care are quite large, so people are not interested in investing in care.

Mr. Lo Huy Hung - Chairman of Ngoc Lam Commune People's Committee said that the support for tea planting for people according to Decision 87 of the Provincial People's Committee was not timely, in 2014 it was supported until 2016, and in 2015 it was not yet available. Moreover, several years of severe drought have caused tea trees to dry up in large areas, leading to people's discouragement and not wanting to continue planting.

Lush green acacia gardens are gradually encroaching on raw tea in Thanh Chuong resettlement area.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Le Dinh Thanh - Vice Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee affirmed: Implementing Decision 87 of the Provincial People's Committee must follow the correct procedures. To receive support, after planting, it is necessary to conduct acceptance and approval before payment. To overcome this situation, in the coming time, we will continue to promote propaganda work, clearly explain to people about policies, analyze to help people clearly understand the importance of tea trees, help people have farming methods, develop family economy.

The project "Developing and planting new tea in the resettlement area of ​​Ban Ve Thanh Chuong Hydropower Plant" sets a target of planting 534 hectares of new raw tea in the period of 2013-2017. Therefore, if there are no timely solutions and with the current implementation progress, the project's target will be difficult to achieve./.

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