10:49:32 AM | 15/3/2007
People’s Committee of central highlands Lam Dong province has approved a project to develop high quality tea area in 2007-2010, with total investment of more than VND221 billion (US$13.8 million).
Of the sum, nearly VND12.9 billion or 5.8 per cent will come from the State budget, while the balance of VND208 billion will be mobilized from foreign and domestic enterprises.
Under the plan, the province will grow around 1,300 more hectares of high quality tea like Kim Tuyen, Tu Quy and O Long varieties in Bao Lam, Di Linh, Lac Duong districts, Da Lat city and Bao Lam township.
The province will also set up 5 more tea processing factories by 2010.
Accordingly, the province will increase total high quality tea area to over 3,250 hectares by 2010, with fresh tea output reaching 39,000 tons. Tea production value is expected to be VND150-180 million per ha per year.
Lam Dong province now has nearly 2,000ha of high quality tea, mostly from China and Taiwan and earmarked for export. The Chinese tea production value is estimated at around VND200-250 million per ha per year, 10 times Vietnamese tea. (Youth, www.lamdong.gov.vn)