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The factory, with ten staff members and a workforce of
eighty-five, underwent major modification and expansion
in 2012-13. With the increased capacity, it is gearing up
to produce 1,200,000 kg of made tea this season and
hoping to increase to 1,500,000 kg, with an eventual target
of 2 million. Installation of new machinery was done to set
up an online system with no manual handling at any stage
of manufacture from the leaf feeder to the sorting system.
Glass partitions instead of brick walls between the office,
tasting room, processing and drying room, not only give
an open well-lit feel to the factory but also allow for better
supervision. CCTV cameras were installed for both
security and surveillance purposes.The factory is certified
for ISO 9000:2008, ISO22000:2005, GMP and Halal.
Work for RA certification is in progress.
A time-consuming exercise of drawing contracts with
agencies and working closely with the farmers has ensured
a steady supply of quality leaf. Tea growing villages in the
area have been adopted. To organize the trade, farmers
have come together to form Tea Clubs. Hands-on and
regular interaction with the farmers, educating them on
the benefits of good husbandry and judicious use of safe
chemicals etc, is proving very fruitful. Motivated by the
success of the adjoining company owned plantations, the
response from the farmers has been so positive that it is
hoped that in the near future these plantations will be RA
certified. The yield has risen to 22 quintals per hectare
since.
Located 115 km north of Hanoi and 15 km from Head
Office in Phu Tho, the 4.61 hectare compound is flanked
by a pond on one side and a hill running along the back.
The hilly area was initially earmarked for planting some
special tea but was found too small a plot to be
economically viable and was left barren. However, in 2010,
the Youth Committee of PhuBen wisely undertook the
responsibility of planting out Pine and Acacia trees. This
man-made forest not only prevents soil erosion but also
provides a lush green backdrop to the factory.
In a drive towards self-sustenance, organic vegetables are
grown on one side of the compound. These and fish bred
in the adjoining pond find their way to the canteen kitchen
enabling the workers to procure meals at highly subsidized
rates.
Like all other factories, Van Linh too is actively involved
in welfare and cultural activities. An annual blood donation
programme is organized by the Youth Union. The Moon
Festival is celebrated each year for the workers’ children.
Volleyball matches are fiercely contested and on the 60th
anniversary of the Cham Mong - TramThan Victory, the
team won the 2nd prize at a match organized to
commemorate the occasion.
Though Van Linh has a fairly recent past, the area has a
very large chapter of history to boast of and, in 1952,
during the battle of Chan Mong - TramThan, saw a lot of
action. Vietnamese troops killed and injured more than
400 French soldiers and arrested 84. As many as 44
armoured cars and tanks were destroyed. The Lorence
March failed miserably. A seized military tank kept just
outside the factory campus is symbolic of Victory!
Auspicious Beginning
Working with Chairman of Tea Club
Pond
The Team
Manufacture
Ready Factory
Modification Work in Progress
Victory
July 2014 47
46 July 2014
Man-Made Forest