“Green gold mine” in Tran Yen forest

Potential and investment

“Green gold mine” in Tran Yen forest

Friday, July 15, 2022

Preliminary statistics show that Tran Yen district of Yen Bai province is currently home to about 80 - 100ha of “khoi nhung” (Ardisia silvestris Pitard), whose leaves generate about 20 billion VND (over 854,900 USD) in sales revenue for the district each year, making this medicinal herb a “green gold mine” in local forests.

The “khoi nhung” garden of Pham Ngoc Hung in Dong Chuoi village of Cuong Thinh commune.

There are two varieties of "khoi nhung”, namely "khoi nhung tia” and "khoi nhung trang”. Thanks to its safe antiphlogistic effect and no side effects, this is a valuable medicinal herb used for treating stomach ache, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some other illnesses. In Vietnam, "khoi nhung” grows mainly in such northern provinces as Yen Bai, Hoa Binh, Quang Ninh and Vinh Phuc.

The period from planting to harvesting "khoi nhung” is short, and the herb also doesn’t need much time or fertiliser to be cared for. In the first year of cultivation, farmers can harvest leaves for two - three times, which can increase to five - seven times with an interval of 40 - 45 days from the second year. Farmers can pick 0.2 - 0.5kg of fresh leaves each time, and the yield always increases year on year.

Each crop of "khoi nhung” is harvestable for more than 10 years, bringing about high economic value. Making use of the land under forest canopy for growing "khoi nhung” is useful for both preventing weeds and generating income.

There are two cultivation methods: growing from seeds and cuttings. The plants growing from seeds have a high survival rate, but it takes them seven - eight months to be harvested for the first time. Meanwhile, those growing from cuttings have big leaves and can be picked after three - four months.

A garden of four-month-old "khoi nhung”.

Cuong Thinh, about 8km from the centre of Tran Yen district, is a low-lying commune that has a natural forecast area of over 1,636ha stretching six villages.

Ha Ngoc Tri, Vice Chairman of the communal People’s Committee, said in the first half of 2022, local residents cultivated 4.5ha of "khoi nhung”, raising the total area in Cuong Thinh to 37.54ha, 27ha of which is currently harvestable. There are two households specialising in producing seedlings to serve the demand in Cuong Thinh and neighbouring communes.

Pham Ngoc Hung, a resident in Dong Chuoi village of Cuong Thinh commune, said his family has made use of their garden and forest area to grow about 0.5ha of "khoi nhung”. Each year, they harvest leaves for six - seven times, 350 - 400kg each, and sell them at 30,000 VND per kg, earning 70 - 80 million VND in annual revenue.

Vu Ngoc Hoa, a resident in Hanh Phuc village of Y Can commune, said realising the high economic value and stable prices of "khoi nhung” leaves, he spent his savings and borrowed 80 million VND from a bank to reclaim his garden for cultivating this plant. With about 0.3ha, he is about to have the first harvest after four months of farming.

YBO

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