“This year Longhua has had ample rainfall, and the town government organized programs to improve Tea quality and conducted skills training for scientific tea management. As a result, our income has increased compared to last year!”
— Tea grower Cheng Qiangui from Renmin Village
stated during an interview with the press.
Screen County's Longhua Town is located at the northern foot of Laojun Mountain, the highest peak in southern Sichuan, with Selenium-rich soil. The tea industry is a traditional sector in Longhua Town and a key source of income for farmers. In recent years, Longhua Town has focused on the full-chain development of the tea industry, intensively working on the “production,” “processing,” and “sales” ends, striving for “supply chain enhancement” and “strengthening,” and promoting the transformation of the tea industry towards “standardization,” “refinement,” and “branding” to boost income growth for the people.
In 2024, the estimated fresh leaf production of the town will reach 31 million pounds, an increase of about 15% year-over-year, with the total annual output value expected to exceed 167 million yuan, an increase of about 33 million yuan, or 25% year-over-year. According to sample survey results, the per-acre output value of tea in Longhua Town will have experienced continuous growth over three years (2022: approximately 3,100 yuan/acre; 2023: approximately 3,600 yuan/acre; 2024: reaching more than 4,500 yuan/acre, with the highest per-acre income in the sample reaching 8,800 yuan).
Focusing on the “Production End”
Promoting “Standardization” in Tea Industry Development
First, standard tea garden bases were established. A 500-acre selenium-rich tea demonstration base was built in Renmin Village, a 400-acre high-standard tea industrial park in Fuxing Village, and a 500-acre organic tea garden in Baxianshan Village, creating demonstration points for improving the quality and efficiency of the tea industry and promoting the transition from scattered to organized management. Some of the older tea gardens were replanted.
Second, standardized tea production and management practices were implemented. Two million yuan was secured for projects aimed at improving tea quality and efficiency, guiding tea growers in the selective picking of buds, one-leaf shoots, and two-leaf shoots for premium teas. Using village party and mass service centers as contact points, 4,000 acres of demonstration tea gardens were uniformly pruned, harvested, fertilized, and had shading branches selectively cut. This approach promoted the transition from extensive production to refined management. Since 2024, improvements have been made across 2,500 acres of tea gardens.
Third, technical training and guidance were strengthened. Technical experts from the town were deployed to front-line village groups at different times to provide guidance on tea production and management and to facilitate the exchange of tea cultivation experiences between villages. Since 2024, over ten training sessions have been held.
Fourth, the cultivation of tea growers' awareness and mindset was emphasized. Through price differences in procurement, tea growers were encouraged to actively pick premium teas, gradually shifting the harvesting of summer and autumn teas from bulk production to premium tea production.
Fifth, the safety of agricultural products was promoted. Strict control was maintained over the safety of agricultural inputs, prohibiting the sale and use of highly toxic and persistent pesticides. The use of scientifically formulated fertilizers was advocated to increase soil organic matter content and improve the quality of tea products.
Focusing on the “Processing End”
Promoting “Refinement” in Tea Industry Development
First, standardized Tea processing plants were developed. Over the past three years, the existing 39 small local tea processing enterprises and workshops were integrated into eight standardized tea factories, including one new premium tea processing plant built in 2024. Since 2024, approximately 7 million pounds of dried tea have been produced annually, with over 80% processed locally.
Second, small-scale mechanization was promoted. Various tea production machinery was equipped, driving the mechanization of the tea industry. The town owns 1,700 single-person electric tea harvesters, 1,800 electric pruning machines, 209 gasoline-powered pruning machines, and 922 tea processing machines. By increasing mechanization rates, labor efficiency and the quality of preliminary processing are improved, laying a solid foundation for subsequent processes.
Third, the refinement of processing techniques was deepened. Tea masters from Xinyang, Henan, were hired to develop tea processing techniques, explore the creation of new tea varieties, and enhance product quality and diversity, thereby strengthening market competitiveness. Strictly adhering to the eight standard procedures of “withering,” “fixation,” “rolling,” “Drying,” “fragrance enhancement,” “grading,” “sifting,” and “packaging,” comprehensive quality control is exercised throughout the process from raw leaves to finished tea products, fully enhancing the taste of the tea and its added value. In July this year, according to preliminary surveys by relevant county departments, the output value of tea production and processing plants in Longhua Town showed significant increases compared to 2023, with the per-acre output value of tea growing by around 40%.
Focusing on the “Sales End”
Promoting “Branding” in Tea Industry Development
First, selenium-rich brand creation. Leveraging the advantage of selenium-rich soil, focusing on cultivating and improving tea varieties, cooperation with the National Selenium Center was strengthened, successfully registering the selenium-rich tea brands “Fuding Gongcha” and “Wupan Yinzhen.” Brand packaging design was improved to highlight the characteristics of the tea brands, further enhancing product influence.
Second, promotional activities were intensified. Eight standardized tea factories mobilized professional sales teams to explore markets and find sales channels in provinces such as Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong, Guangxi, and Shaanxi. Sichuan Radio and Television Station was invited to film the documentary “Look, the Bridge” in Longhua Town, incorporating elements like tea picking to broaden promotional reach. The town-owned enterprise invested 500,000 yuan in establishing a high-quality agricultural specialty products store, utilizing platforms like visitor centers and Longxi Square to showcase and promote selenium-rich tea products. Since 2024, approximately 200,000 yuan worth of selenium-rich tea has been sold.
Third, integration of tea and tourism. By opening the organic tea garden in Baxianshan and hosting various tea-picking festivals, the agritourism experience was enhanced, further promoting Longhua Town's tea industry and raising its profile. The county-wide tea-picking competition successfully held in Longhua Town in 2024 further promoted and enhanced the reputation and recognition of Longhua Town's tea, laying the groundwork for better income growth through the tea industry.