Current location:International Illustrations news portal > world
Across China: Hainan's Ethnic Tea Grower Strives for Collective Prosperity
International Illustrations news portal2024-05-21 10:13:22【world】8People have gathered around
IntroductionContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom
- Home
- News
- People
- In-depth
- ACWF
Across China: Hainan's Ethnic Tea Grower Strives for Collective Prosperity
May 24, 2022Fu Xiuxiang picks tea leaves at an organic tea plantation in Baisha Li Autonomous County of south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 27, 2020. [Xinhua/Guo Cheng] |
HAIKOU, May 23 (Xinhua) — When tourists arrive, Fu Xiaofang will make tea for them skillfully and fastidiously, unwilling to omit even one step which she thinks would be like blasphemy against her farm produce.
Fu, 44, is the founder of an organic tea plantation in Baisha Li Autonomous County of south China's Hainan Province.
"Life is like tea, refined again and again to have a mellow fragrance," Fu said, noting that tea leaves can only be made through several steps, including roasting, water-removing, and rolling. Her career has also experienced struggles.
With a pleasant climate, abundant rainfall, and fertile soil, the Baisha meteorite crater area is suitable for tea planting. In 2008, Fu returned to her hometown to start a business. Gathering five local farmers, she set up a professional cooperative and opened a tea plantation covering about 1.47 hectares near the crater.
Starting from scratch, every mile on the way forward was difficult. Fu led the group to turn over the soil and left the land uncultivated for three years to improve it.
With no herbicide, they weeded row after row, but the grass grew again quickly. Pests were also a headache. When the pest problem was severe, all the leaves and buds, ready for harvest, were eaten up overnight.
One night, Fu checked the pest situation on the tea plantation. The sound of pests biting the tea tree drove her crazy, and she suddenly burst into tears, even thinking of giving up.
After calming down, Fu began to think of different ways to prevent the pests, like using many sticky boards and solar lamps to kill pests.
After planting the tea, Fu began to concentrate on the tea-making process. She fried tea leaves with bare hands all year round, only to find that her fingerprints had blurred under the high temperature over time. She tried the tea frequently to ensure the taste, which led to her stomach illness.
Through ups and downs, the tea plantation finally welcomed a harvest. In 2014, the plantation was certified as China's organic tea plantation, becoming the first organic tea plantation in Hainan. Since 2015, the tea plantation has passed the organic certification of the European Union and the United States, and the top tea leaves are sold across the country.
The tea business also benefitted local people. Over the past years, Fu helped lift more than 1,000 poor households out of poverty by providing jobs and making farmers shareholders.
The number of local farmers working on the tea plantation has increased to 186, all from six nearby villages. Villagers flexibly choose their working hours and can earn more than 100 yuan (about 15 U.S. dollars) a day.
Fu Xiuxiang, 57, from a nearby village, has worked on the tea plantation for ten years. She is now skilled at picking tea, weeding, applying organic fertilizer, and stir-frying tea.
Ten years ago, her husband received several surgeries due to illness, and thus the family slipped into debt. To take care of her family, Fu Xiuxiang could not work far away but came to the tea plantation.
Over the years, she not only paid off debts but also saved money to build a new house. Now, she is the monitor of the tea picking team, earning more than 4,000 yuan a month.
"Working here makes me feel at home," said Fu Xiuxiang, who is used to staying on the tea plantation even when there is no work to do.
"Life is getting better and better," said a smiling Fu Xiuxiang. She is uneducated and was afraid of speaking in public, but now she has learned many skills and become more open-minded and optimistic. When visitors come, she will happily sing the folk songs of the Li ethnic minority.
With the support of the local government, Fu Xiaofang built homestays and developed tourism, and the rooms are always booked up during the holidays.
Now the tea plantation has expanded from 2 hectares to 20 hectares. The plantation is starting a new project to improve tourism facilities to accommodate more tourists.
Fu Xiaofang said she would work harder on the tea plantation in the hope of bringing prosperity to more local villagers.
Fu Xiaofang shows tea leaves at an organic tea plantation in Baisha Li Autonomous County of south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 27, 2020. [Xinhua/Guo Cheng] |
(Source: Xinhua)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Comments
Magazines
Projects
- 2023 Women Science and Technology Innovation Pioneer...
Photos
- People Enjoy Blooming Tulips in Jinan, East...
- Flowers Bloom Across China in Spring
Special Coverage
Address of this article:http://britishindianoceanterritory.cumberland-sausage.net/html-30a499899.html
Very good!(933)
Related articles
- Baby Reindeer's real
- Bednarek sets the fastest 200m time this year at Doha Diamond League
- What to know about California's new generative AI tools
- Irvin sharp again for the Orioles, and Kimbrel pitches in the 7th inning of a 4
- Ricky Stenhouse punching Kyle Busch could lead to suspension
- I'm an American living in the UK... here's why universal healthcare is not all roses
- Did Prince Harry try to upstage his family by making royal
- Prince Harry heads to airport to leave the UK before Nigeria tour with Meghan
- Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy
- Seattle man is suspected of fatally shooting 9
Popular articles
- Adams, Reyna, Turner, Ream are US concerns ahead of Copa America
- Compher scores late, Campbell makes 21 saves for 2nd straight shutout as Toronto beats Minnesota 2
- Google IS quietly recording your voice... here is how to switch the feature off
- Despite revenue downgrade, North Carolina anticipates nearly $1B more in cash
Recommended
'Constantly learning' Imanaga off to impressive start with the Chicago Cubs
Sharon Stone shuts down GMB's Ed Balls during awkward moment over 'set
John Swinney clashes with SNP's former Green allies over 'regressive' decision to make anti
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP '24: Justin Thomas gets rare experience playing a major in his hometown
Insider Q&A: CIA's chief technologist's cautious embrace of generative AI
US dedicates $60 million to saving water along the Rio Grande as flows shrink and demands grow
Kansas' governor vetoes a bill for extending child support to fetuses
California has a multibillion
Links
- Rachel Brosnahan and Melissa McCarthy suit up for opening night of Broadway musical Suffs in NYC
- Chinese carmaker FAW Group reports robust sales in Q1
- Nick Viall, 43, and Natalie Joy, 25, get real about struggles getting intimate as new parents
- Juan Soto's 3
- Pride beat Wave 1
- Experts at Boao forum express optimism about AI but urge oversight
- A new, stable fiscal forecast for Kansas reinforces the dynamics of a debate over tax cuts
- Pride beat Wave 1
- Africa Energy Indaba highlights prospects of South Africa
- Marcia Clark