At this time in previous years, many hills have become popular with the mining of spring tea. However, this year, affected by the sudden COVID-19 epidemic, the picking of Pu'er spring tea was also severely affected. So, how should tea farmers and tea companies help themselves this year? Recently, our reporter visited and learned about it.

Photographed by Shi Zhihong

Tea Merchant Facing difficulties such as labor shortage and lack of funds

"This year I originally planned to go to Yiwu Wangong Base and Laobanzhang Base to buy tea, but now due to the epidemic, the roads in the village are still closed. I don't know what the situation will be like in half a month." A Pu'er tea merchant in Kangle Tea City told reporters that he currently wants to buy raw materials but cannot enter the tea base. There is a shortage of salespersons in market stores. Many customers in the past are facing a lot of financial pressure and have no extra funds to buy Pu'er tea. As for how to deal with the epidemic, the tea dealer said that the current overall sales volume has been significantly reduced. He plans to make some high-quality famous mountain tea into small packages that are easy to carry, so that more consumers can drink high-quality and low-priced Pu'er tea.

Ma Xiaoqing, a tea farmer from the Xishuangbanna Xiangsuo Tea Agricultural Professional Cooperative, said that spring tea production needs to be planned in advance. The initial production site of each tea mountain requires manual picking and greening, and additional equipment requires funds. "During the two months of spring tea production, in previous years, our five initial production sites would hire about 50 tea pickers and 20 tea finishing masters. This year, we expect to only hire about 10 tea pickers and 5 finishing masters, and the whole family will be involved in the picking and processing." Ma Xiaoqing said that many workers hired in previous years came to Lancang, Pu'er and other places. According to the current epidemic prevention and control situation, workers from other places are basically unavailable this year.

The difficulties encountered by Ma Xiaoqing are actually the difficulties that many tea farmers may face. "The spring tea production in Yunnan Province accounts for about 1/3 of the total annual production, and the earliest places can be mined in February. At present, about 10% of our member units started work around February 10, and about 80% delayed the start." The relevant person in charge of the Yunnan Tea Circulation Association believes that if within February If the epidemic is not effectively controlled, spring tea picking will face a serious labor shortage. Especially during the peak period, hundreds of thousands of pickers will be needed, and more than 10,000 tea makers will be needed. At that time, in addition to local tea farmers, migrant workers will not be able to be in place due to the epidemic isolation requirements. It is estimated that the labor shortage will become the primary problem in spring tea production.

“In the context of overcapacity in the tea industry, the number of Pu’er tea collections is particularly outstanding compared to other teas. In recent years, many companies’ products have been unsaleable and have difficulty in withdrawing funds. They lack funds to purchase fresh leaves and raw tea. In addition, affected by the epidemic, people have to go to tea areas to buy raw tea. The number of foreign and local tea merchants will inevitably decrease, and tea farmers will not be able to sell well. "The relevant person in charge of the Yunnan Tea Circulation Association said that under the influence of the epidemic, tea companies' previous dealer meetings and on-site ordering meetings cannot be held normally, which not only affects the flow of funds, but also makes the circulation of tea products more difficult.

According to the Yunnan Provincial Tea Circulation Association, the shortage of epidemic prevention supplies has also affected the normal start-up of major tea areas. In particular, protective masks and disinfection supplies required by tea pickers and preliminary and refined processing personnel are in short supply. The increase in prevention and control costs will also affect the production of spring tea.

Self-rescue

Tea farmers select the best and pick the best to minimize losses

It is understood that there are 6 million tea farmers and 10 million tea-related people in our province. Faced with various difficulties faced by the Yunnan tea industry, the Yunnan Tea Circulation Association has recently submitted written reports to the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee Office, the Provincial Government Office, the Provincial Department of Finance, the Provincial Department of Commerce, the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and other departments, recommending that the government pay attention to and provide policy support for issues such as labor shortages, financial difficulties, sales difficulties, and shortages of epidemic prevention items during spring tea production.

So, how should tea farmers “help themselves”? Industry insiders believe that compared with previous years, spring tea has been delayed for a while, but don’t give up and pick the best ones to minimize losses. At the same time, we must have a long-term vision. Even if we are affected by the epidemic, we must improve quality and leave a good reputation.

In addition, ancient tree tea farmers should not over-pick as before, and should pick appropriately to protect the ancient tree tea.

Tea companies strive for orders to retain old customers

Under the epidemic, many small and medium-sized tea companies are facing a life and death test. Not only tea farmers, but tea companies should also actively save themselves. Yesterday, the reporter interviewed Mr. Chen, a senior Pu’er tea merchant. He pointed out that there are still many ways to deal with it.

First of all, we must retain old customers. Old customers are the basis for the survival of tea companies. Retaining old customers means that tea companies can survive. Many old customers have been making tea for decades. No matter how difficult it is, they will grit their teeth and persevere in the tea industry. Enterprises should provide certain preferential conditions to old customers to win orders and retain old customers.

Secondly, we must increase revenue and reduce expenditure. Under the test of life and death, you need to have the determination of a strong man to cut off your wrists and increase revenue and reduce expenditure. This is what most tea companies will adopt. Those who can get rent reductions should strive for rent reductions. Only by uniting and helping each other can we tide over the difficulties.

Finally, we must constantly look for new marketing methods.

Mr. Chen said that in the past six months, companies can only save themselves. Only by practicing internal skills and accumulating strength can we welcome the spring after the epidemic.

Note: The source of the article is Spring City Evening News, author Li Sai, information is valuable in sharing, if there are copyright issues, please contact us to delete

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