Camellia chrysantha is one of crops helping ethnic people in Ba Che, Quang Ninh province escape poverty. (Photo: baoquangninh.com.vn)

Chiu Sinh Phan’s family, a Dao ethnic family in Don Dac commune, used to depend on a hectare of acacia and cinnamon trees. When the golden camellia tea cultivation model was launched, Phan registered to participate in and was given 300 seedlings.

Four years later, he earned more than 1,700 USD from his first camellia harvest, which encouraged him to expand his cultivation area. Now he has nearly 1,000 trees.

Phan told VOV, “Golden camellia tea produces good income for my family, much more than other crops.”

Other households in Don Dac commune have recognized the profitability of golden camellia tea.

Trieu Duc Tinh registered to plant 1,600 trees and was subsidized by the district for 70% of the cost of the seedlings.

“It’s impossible to grow golden camellia tea alternately with acacia trees but it’s possible with cinnamon trees,” he said.

“We keep only the good trees, and carefully shade them from the sunlight. It’s not difficult to grow golden camellia tea, but we need to be patient.” 

Camellia chrysantha-based products have secured a firm foothold in the market. (Photo: baoquangninh.com.vn)

As of August, Ba Che had about 200 hectares of golden camellia tea. Last year the district harvested 600 kilos of dried flowers, 6 tons of dried leaves, and more than 100,000 seedlings, earning nearly 600,000 USD and giving local households a relatively stable income.

Vi Thanh Vinh, head of the district’s Agriculture and Rural Development Section, said, “We’ll teach the farmers advanced farming techniques. This year, we’ll work with the district administration to organize the 3rd golden camellia tea festival, expand the scale of cultivation, and help businesses expand their operations.”

Associate Professor Duong Van Thao, Dean of the Forestry Faculty of the University of Agriculture and Forestry, said, “Golden camellia tea is native to Ba Che and adapted to the region’s ecology and terrain. The tree’s potential will greatly increase once more studies of genetic resources and conservation of seedlings are made to ensure high yields and medicinal content.”