Yen Bai: Enhancing the value of tea through a sustainable chain

Yen Bai - Yen Bai is witnessing a strong shift in the tea industry. Not stopping at providing raw materials, the province is determined to build a closed value chain, from planting, caring, processing to consumption, with the ultimate goal of increasing product value, ensuring a sustainable future for tea trees - the core source of livelihood for generations of farmers.

People of Minh Quan commune, Tran Yen district harvest tea.

>> Yen Bai tea expands raw material area, aiming for value chain production

>> Expanding export opportunities for tea products

>> Positioning Yen Bai tea brand

>> Yen Bai: Tea is still the main crop

As one of the "tea capitals" of the North, Yen Bai has long been closely associated with tea trees. By the end of 2024, the whole province will have 7,425 hectares of tea, with fresh tea buds reaching 68,473 tons, affirming the position of the tea industry in the local agricultural economic structure. However, the urgent problem is how to not only increase output but also increase added value, enhancing the competitiveness of Yen Bai tea in both domestic and international markets.

Realizing the importance of this issue, the government and the people have jointly identified developing the tea industry according to the value chain as a strategic direction, an important turning point opening a new promising chapter for the province's tea industry. To realize this goal, a series of key projects have been and are being implemented vigorously, focusing on building close links between stages in the entire production, processing and consumption process.

A typical example is the Green Tea Production Development Project linked to the value chain in Hung Khanh Commune, Tran Yen District (2024 - 2025). With a total scale of 60 hectares, the Project focuses on intensive cultivation of 10 hectares of existing tea and planting 50 hectares of new tea varieties with high yield and quality such as Bat Tien.

Dat Quang Agricultural and Forestry Service Cooperative (HTX), Hung Khanh Commune, Tran Yen District is the pioneer in implementing the Project. To date, the planting of 50 hectares of new tea has completed 100% of the plan and the 2024 support fund has been fully disbursed - a positive signal showing the determination and effectiveness in implementation.

Director of Dat Quang Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative Vu Van Dinh shared: "Previously, our cooperative members also grew tea, but mainly midland tea varieties with low prices. Since joining the cooperative and the chain, we have received support from the State for varieties and technical support from enterprises to switch to growing Bat Tien tea with much higher purchasing prices. Currently, all 60 hectares of tea of ​​the cooperative members have been signed by Khe Nam Tea Cooperative, also in Hung Khanh commune, to purchase all output."

In addition to the Project in Hung Khanh, Yen Bai also implements the Project to develop lowland tea areas, linking production according to the value chain of Binh Thuan Tea Company Limited (2024 - 2025). With a scale of 55 hectares, this Project focuses on intensive cultivation of 25 hectares of existing tea and planting 30 hectares of new tea.

The total investment cost is 2,056.7 million VND, of which the provincial budget supports 626.8 million VND. The project has completed the signing of the implementation contract, ensuring the contents according to the approval decision, promising to expand the high-quality raw material area, improve processing efficiency and increase the export value of Yen Bai tea.

Developing the tea industry according to the value chain brings practical benefits, first of all helping to increase the value of products. Instead of just selling raw materials at low value, the modern production and processing linkage model helps tea products meet the strict standards of the international market. Green tea, organic tea, and high-end tea products are increasingly focused on development, opening up opportunities to access "difficult" markets such as Europe, the US, and Japan.

In particular, products with clear origins and food safety certifications such as VietGAP and organic will have a superior competitive advantage in the export market. Not only that, this model also promotes the local economy. Production linkage not only increases income for tea growers but also creates many jobs for rural workers.

Cooperatives and enterprises participating in the value chain have the conditions for sustainable development and at the same time contribute to building an increasingly strong Yen Bai tea brand. In addition, tea projects in the value chain all aim at sustainable farming methods, minimizing the use of chemicals, contributing to protecting the environment and ecosystem. This not only helps improve the quality of the soil but also raises people's awareness of green agricultural development.

Although encouraging results have been achieved, Yen Bai tea industry still faces a number of significant challenges. Farmers' cultivation techniques are not uniform, affecting tea quality. The consumption market is still volatile, tea prices can change from time to time. The connection between production and processing is sometimes loose, requiring more investment in technology and expanding export markets. To continue developing the tea industry in a sustainable direction, Yen Bai needs to implement many synchronous solutions. Strengthening the connection between tea growers and businesses through cooperatives and long-term consumption contracts is a key factor to ensure stable output.

At the same time, it is necessary to improve farming techniques for people through training courses, instructions on caring for tea according to organic standards, and reducing the use of pesticides. In addition, promoting tea products through participation in international fairs and exhibitions, building brands, and developing online distribution channels such as e-commerce will help Yen Bai tea reach further in the market.

Yen Bai is developing the tea industry according to the value chain, improving product quality and people's lives. Projects linking production, processing and consumption of tea have brought positive results, creating a sustainable foundation. If this model continues to expand, Yen Bai will not only maintain its position as a key tea region but also have the opportunity to reach international standards with high-quality tea products, imbued with the typical flavors of the Northwest region.

Van Thong

Source: http://baoyenbai.com.vn/12/347625/Yen-Bai-Nang-tam-gia-tri-che-bang-chuoi-lien-ket-ben-vung.aspx