Guizhou holds conference on tea industry development

Representatives from tea-related companies and institutes exchange opinions on the tea industry's future development at the conference. [Photo/gog.cn]

A conference on the tea industry - its development during the first half of this year and its future goals - was held in Meitan county, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on June 9.

At the conference, representatives of institutions and companies gave an update on the prevention and control of plant diseases and insect pests, fertilization, and selective breeding of different varieties in Guizhou's tea gardens.

Attendees exchanged opinions on problems in the development of the tea industry, and proposed suggestions and solutions.

The conference stressed that Guizhou should enhance its support for tea planting, the collaboration between enterprises, universities and research institutes, and stick to market-based development.

Departments related to commerce, finance, human resources and technology should make joint plans to promote training sessions, financial support and technological support.

Guizhou should focus on featured tea varieties and lift its tea industry to a new level by adjusting structures, opening up new markets, promoting process upgrading and cultivating new types of businesses.

As Guizhou's featured industry, a green industry and a pillar industry of poverty alleviation, the tea industry has maintained rapid growth despite the influence of the COVID-19 outbreak.

By the end of May, Guizhou's tea yield totaled 168,800 metric tons with an output value of 31.9 billion yuan ($4.52 billion), a year-on-year increase of 7.5 percent and 11.77 percent respectively.

Guizhou also sold 136,400 tons of tea with a sales volume of 26.28 billion yuan. According to Guiyang customs, the export volume of the tea was 85.23 million yuan, an increase of 90.7 percent.