The silent profession of tea picking

Tea picking is not only a simple job but also a career - a profession of many generations of people in the highlands. Each tea bud is like the crystallization of heaven and earth, the achievement and pride of the laborers here. In the era of mechanization, there are many modern production methods, but manual tea picking is still maintained. Although there are no specific statistics, it must be affirmed that the number of people working as hired tea pickers in the province is quite large. It is like a symbol of vitality, the attachment between people and nature, the hard work with the beauty of the land full of affection.

We arrived at Doan Ket ward on a summer morning. In the light rain, we could see the figure of a woman with her hands moving quickly on the tea rows. The sound of laughter mixed with the rustling wind and the sound of the engine created a rustic picture in the middle of the mountains and forests. The work of picking tea for hire lasts from early spring to the 10th lunar month every year. Although it is seasonal, it has become the main source of income for many people, especially for those who are unemployed and lack land for cultivation.

For the past 20 years, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue in Group 6 has been working as a hired tea picker. Although it is sometimes hard work due to harvesting in hot weather, the job of hired tea picker has helped her earn a living, have an independent financial source that does not depend on children, and moreover, it has brought her joy, relaxation, and enjoyment of the fresh, cool air every morning. Ms. Hue confided: Doing this job, sometimes my shoulders and back hurt, my hands are stained with tea, but there are very simple joys, so I have persevered for many years. I am also happy to see that I am still healthy and still attached to the job.

Tea picking for hire - the life of many generations of women in the highlands.

Similarly, Mrs. Tan Thi Lo, 65 years old, in Lung Thang village, also shared the same thoughts. She said: Every month after harvesting my family's tea, I go out to pick tea for hire. During those days, I often wake up early to cook rice for lunch right on the tea plantation, saving time on the way back and forth while increasing the tea picking capacity, helping tea growers harvest quickly, process promptly and ensure quality.

The work of picking tea for hire is usually done by women, mothers form groups, while working they tell stories about their families and children, sometimes even sing a few folk songs to relieve fatigue. The work of picking tea for hire is not just a simple job, but also requires the heart to both pick and protect the tea plants so that they are not damaged, the tea yield is stable, the tea plantation owners do not have to work hard to pick up old stems and stalks when roasting, rolling and drying. It is also because they understand this that hand-picked tea is always twice as expensive as machine-cut tea.

The wind still blows, the tea fields are still green, amidst the vast forests and mountains, the hands of the hired tea pickers still diligently contribute to spreading the scent of tea far across the valleys. They are like strong tea buds growing up the hillside regardless of sunny or rainy days.

Source: https://baolaichau.vn/xa-hoi/tham-lang-nghe-hai-che-1272867