At this time, in the forests of Chieng Hoa, Ngoc Chien, Co Ma, Xim Vang, Ta Xua communes, the atmosphere of harvesting cardamom is taking place urgently.
Along the trails through the forest, people carry bags of bright red cardamom from the mountainside to the gathering point to sell to traders. The characteristic aroma of this medicinal herb spreads throughout the mountains and forests, signaling the bustling harvest season has begun.
Planted under the canopy of natural forests, cardamom is suitable for the cool climate and high humidity of the high mountains of Son La. After many years of development, this type of tree has become an important source of income for many highland households, contributing to improving life and raising awareness of forest protection.
Mr. Mua A Tua's family, in Nam Nghep village, Ngoc Chien commune, currently has 3 hectares of cardamom being harvested. Every day, the whole family goes to the forest to pick fruit and transport it to the village to sell to traders.
Mr. Tua shared: "The family has harvested more than 2 tons of fresh fruit, sold at prices from 23,000-25,000 VND/kg, earning over 50 million VND. Currently, about 2 tons of fruit will continue to be harvested in the near future. Thanks to cardamom, life is more stable and people are also aware of keeping the forest because when the forest is still there, the trees will develop well.
Mr. Khang A Say - Secretary of the Party Cell, Head of Nam Nghep village - said that the village currently has more than 50 hectares of cardamom. Many households have incomes from tens to over 100 million VND per year thanks to this plant.
When people live thanks to forests, their awareness of forest management and protection is also clearly raised. Therefore, cardamom not only brings economic value but also contributes to preserving upstream forests," Mr. Say said.
Not only in Ngoc Chien, the model of growing cardamom under the forest canopy is developing in many highland areas of Son La.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Son La province, the whole province currently has more than 450 hectares of cardamom, concentrated in highland communes. Of which, over 350 hectares have been harvested, with an annual output of nearly 1,300 tons of fresh fruit.
Cardamom is purchased by traders right in the locality at a price of 20,000-25,000 VND/kg of fresh fruit, while dried products range from 120,000-150,000 VND/kg, bringing a stable income to people in mountainous areas.
Many localities are also orienting towards building processed cardamom products according to OCOP standards to improve value and expand consumption markets.
Chieng Hoa commune is one of the key cardamom growing areas of the province. The locality currently has nearly 200 hectares of cardamom growing under the forest canopy, becoming a crop that helps many H'Mong households escape poverty and gradually become well-off.
Mr. Hoang Van Thai, Vice Chairman of Chieng Hoa Commune People's Committee, said: "The cardamom not only brings stable income to people but also creates motivation for the community to participate in managing and protecting forests, contributing to the sustainable development of the forestry economy.
Today's cardamom is not only a poverty reduction tree for people in mountainous areas but also becomes a "bridge" between economic development and forest protection, contributing to building sustainable livelihoods in the great mountains of Son La.
