Ha Giang (VNA) – Northern Ha Giang province’s HoangSu Phi district, the hub of shantuyet tea trees, which has been recognised as part of the Ancient TreeHeritage of Vietnam, isworking hard to preserve and develop the tree and promote the signatureproduct.

Hoang Su Phi currently has over 4,600 hectares of shan tuyettea farm, with an output of 12,880 tonnes of fresh tea per year worth 115billion VND.

Of the total area, about 2,000 hectares ancient tea trees with production of more than 6,000tonnes per year.

Hoang Su Phi has 25 teaprocessing facilities, including five cooperatives with a capacity of producing3-5 tonnes per day, creating jobs for many local labourers with high income.

Income of shan tuyet treefarmers is about 50 million VND (2,150 USD) per year, which helps them improvethe living conditions.

According to Nguyen Thi AnhHong, Vice President of the Vietnam Tea Association, the preservation andenhancement of Hoang Su Phi tea trees and the building trademark for Hoang SuPhi shan tuyet tea products.

She underlined the need ofcommunication work to raise locals’ awareness of protecting and developing thetrees.

Currently, 1,470 hectaresof tea farm in Hoang Su Phi has received organic certification, including 161hectares meeting EU standards. Hoang Su Phi tea has also got geographicalindication. However, the product has yet to be sold in many internationalmarkets.

Ly Choi Nhan, head of thedistrict’s Office of Agriculture and Rural Development, over the years, HaGiang has issued various policies to develop and sell shan tuyet tea product ina sustainable manner.

Hoang Su Phi district hasstrengthened trade promotion, while focusing on cultivation, harvesting andprocessing of shan tuyet tea, thus enhancing the value of the product,especially ancient shan tuyet tea, he said.

Nhan said that material teain the district is highly valued by international experts, but sellingactivities have still been modest. Therefore, in the future, Hoang Su Phi willcontinue improving its production and processing methods to enhance the valueand trademark of the product.

In August this year, the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnamissued certification of geographical indication on Ha Giang shan tuyet tea in six districts and 44communes, giving a chance for the province to promote the product wider in theglobal market./.