GREAT, non-government organisations and local government agencies, are investing to engage and train local women in their agricultural supply chains. Photo: Aus4Equality GREAT

Snow shan tea, one of the most exotic tea varieties in Vietnam, earns its name from its greyish-white buds. The ancient Snow shan trees grows wild up to several meters high, with farmers having to climb the trees to pick the tea leaves.

Coated with a white/grey color, tender tea leaves are likened to snow flowers, thus named ‘snow Shan tea’ with Shan meaning ‘mountain’.

Growing in mountainous areas more than 1,000 meters above the sea level, the large difference between day and night temperatures creates the special pure flavour of the tea.

With the support of the Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) Program, Bac Ha Tea Company is partnering with Helvetas - an international non-governmental organisation to upscale its organic supply chain of snow shan tea and grow its export markets in Europe and the United States.

The GREAT Program is being implemented until 2021 in Lao Cai and Son La provinces. It aims to empower local women to engage in agriculture and tourism markets and enhance women’s voices in economic decision-making.

The Program partners will include a perse range of actors, such as private organisations, non-government stakeholders and state institutions in the agriculture and tourism sectors. These partners will help improve the policy environment and stimulate inclusive and equitable growth in the region. In Lao Cai province alone, this partnership is expected to bring benefits to more than 1,000 women from Tay, Mong, Dao and Nung ethnic minorities in Ban Lien, Ta Cu Ty, Nam Khanh and Ta Van Chu communes, Bac Ha District.

VNF/GREAT