Wild tea good for local economy and biodiversity

   Supporting and planting tea productions is one of the main earnings for of Xiengkhouang province.

   In 2019, there were more than 3,400 hectares of Phousane Tea in 5 district in Xiengkhouang Province, out of which only 500 hectares are plantations. The market for Phousane Tea has grown due to increasing demand from China. Around 80% of the tea products are exported while the remaining 20% are used for market. In 2019, more than 100 tons of fresh tea and 20 tons of dry tea were produced. The farmers and entrepreneurs are constantly improving the quality and quantity of their production. They are now using standard processing techniques that allows them to choose whether they want to sell as fresh tea or dry tea as small enterprise in the village. This helps to improve the condition of villages around Oh An and allow them to benefit as well

    Ms. Chanthaly Sifongxai, Deputy Head of Planting section, provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office, Xiengkhouang Province said that

   "Tea production has changed people’s live and farmer were able to increase their income. Before, income was around 5 million Kip per year for an average family. Now it is around 59 million kips. Families were able to build strong and beautiful houses and better mean of transport such as cars and motorcycles. There are better road in Oh an Now, you will see when you drive through the village. Oh An is considered the main tea producing village because it is close to the big sane mountain. Up on the mountain, there are a lot of tea because there are intact ecosystems, green forests, a high biodiversity and ideal weather condition due to the high altitude."

     Mr. Tongxua Mua, Hea of Oh An Village said that "life of farmer in the village has better, they are not poor any longer. Moreover, farmers help conserving the forest and biodiversity in the Sane Mountain because biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are important for tea production."

    LURUS Project help farmer to improve their plantation for example to intercrop tea tree with fruit tree. In the future, this would allow them to have more income from selling fruit. Intercroppping can help conserving trees, the environment and forest which is sustainable way of getting sustainable income by having income not only from tea, but also from other plants.