In the midst of the hot summer in August, after traveling more than 70km of the winding mountain pass from the old Lao Cai city, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters were present in Lung Phinh commune - the center of medicinal plant cultivation in the old Bac Ha district.
Lung Phinh commune is located at an altitude of over 1,000m, cool all year round, and the land is fertile. This place has long been a "repository" of natural medicinal herbs with many precious species such as taxis, cat canh, ba that...
In recent years, instead of spontaneous exploitation, local people have joined hands with the government and businesses to preserve and grow medicinal herbs in a sustainable way, both preserving valuable genetic resources and creating stable income.
Mr. Giang Seo Vu, La Nhi Thang village (Lung Phinh commune) shared that his family used to only grow corn and rice, without any other source of income. Since switching to growing 1ha of wing sand, my family earns about 150-200 million VND per year, and the economy is much more stable.
Similarly, Mr. Trang Seo Kenh in Tan Chu village also said that in previous years, his family only grew rice and corn, so there was a shortage all year round, even though "selling the land to the poor, selling the back to the sky" still could not escape difficulties.
"After the establishment of Co De Chai Agricultural Cooperative, my husband and I were hired to work and were paid for care. Seeing the effectiveness of growing medicinal herbs, we also want to participate in planting together, have cooperatives support seedlings and be instructed on planting techniques of all kinds such as tripe, tripe, and tripe. This helps the family have a stable source of income. Now we have bought a TV, 2 motorbikes, and built a spacious house," said Mr. Kenh.
Taking reporters to visit the medicinal garden in the middle of thousands of mountains and forests, Mr. Sung Seo Senh - Deputy Director of Co De Chai Agricultural Cooperative - said: "Previously, people were used to go to the forest to pick medicinal herbs for sale, both with unstable income and depleting valuable genetic resources. Therefore, it is necessary to change the way of thinking and doing things for sustainable development".
Initially, despite support for varieties, techniques and product packaging, many people were still hesitant, even opposing because they did not trust them. But when some households boldly did it first and saw the clear results, people joined the chain of linkages.
"I manage about 1,000 households growing all kinds of sedge, wing sand, and sugarcane, with an area of over 40 hectares. Every year, the cooperative purchases and covers output, helping people feel secure in farming. Currently, each household earns a stable income of 100-150 million VND/year thanks to growing medicinal herbs, Mr. Senh happily said.
In addition to long-term crops, people also intercrop short-term crops such as chili and mustard greens to increase their income. The preservation and promotion of medicinal value in Lung Phinh aims at the dual goal: creating stable income and preserving valuable resources.
On August 14, speaking with Lao Dong, Mr. Tran Hoang Tuan - Secretary of the Party Committee of Lung Phinh commune - said: "The commune used to be the center of medicinal plant cultivation in the old Bac Ha district. The cultivation of medicinal herbs not only preserves biodiversity but also creates income and improves people's lives".
According to the Secretary of the Party Committee of Lung Phinh commune, this year the commune aims to plant more than 171 hectares of medicinal herbs, mainly sedge, rice, artichokes...
At the same time, the government coordinated with the regional agricultural service center to sign a product purchase contract, creating stable output.
"The government will actively propagate, mobilize and connect product consumption so that people can feel secure in sticking with medicinal plants for a long time. But it is also necessary to have the participation of the people in promoting the development of these tree varieties, Mr. Tuan emphasized.
