BAGUIO CITY – Sixty-eight high-value crop farmers from the Cordillera region participated in the two-day tea processing seminar led by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Baguio and the author of the Tea Corridor to introduce the possibilities of tea production in the region.
Dominique Molintas, author of the study collaborated with DA-CAR and BPI-Baguio as an alternative to high-value crop farmers of the Cordillera, to consider the planting and production of tea as part of their farm.
“We can compete if we really will pursue planting tea because what was computed in the study was the elevation, temperature, and how much idle lands are available for the planting of tea particularly in 6 areas in Benguet. We still however have to decide on what variety and quality of tea should we produce, it will take three to five years before we see the benefits from planting and producing tea,” Molintas said.
The farmers were introduced to the processes of tea production which covered the harvesting, withering, bruising, fixation, sealed yellowing, rolling and shaping, oxidation, drying, aging, and accelerated fermentation or wet pilling.
The variety of tea includes white tea, green tea, yellow tea, oolong tea, black tea, and dark tea.
DA-CAR in coordination with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Baguio assisted in the conduct of the seminar to acquaint prospective tea farmers on the processes of tea production.
“As part of our support to our prospective tea farmers, the department together with the Benguet State University not only shared our facility for the venue but shared additional technical knowledge in the planting process of tea,” BPI-Baguio Training Coordinator Divina Jose added. By JTLlanes
