Bao Ha: Exploiting the value of cinnamon trees to sustainably reduce poverty

Identifying cinnamon as a key crop, Bao Ha commune has recently expanded its area, improved its quality and promoted deep processing to increase the value of the production chain. This direction helps to optimize benefits for the people, create sustainable livelihoods and contribute to changing the face of the local countryside.

The family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai, Khe Ban village, is one of the large cinnamon growers in the commune. Starting to grow cinnamon in 2014, she has now expanded the area to more than 20 hectares, earning over 300 million VND each year.

Not only exploiting her family's land, she also buys fresh cinnamon from people inside and outside the village to process cinnamon flutes, split cinnamon, and dried cinnamon to sell to the market. Each season, Mai's facility consumes hundreds of tons of fresh cinnamon, at the same time creating stable jobs for many local workers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai's family, Khe Ban village, processes cinnamon bark before selling to increase its value.

Ms. Mai shared: Before, I planted Bodhi and Acacia trees, but the results were not as good as cinnamon trees. Cinnamon trees provide a stable income, have a wide range of outputs, and have many consumers, so the goods are not stagnant.

Khe Ban village currently has 131 households, of which over 90% grow cinnamon. The first four years of care are quite difficult, but from the fifth year, households can prune leaves, branches, and trees to sell, one hectare can bring in tens of millions of dong. When the cinnamon reaches about ten years old, the economic efficiency is even more obvious, each hectare brings in about 300 - 400 million dong. Thanks to cinnamon trees, people's lives have improved significantly: many families have escaped poverty and built spacious houses.

Khe Ban village currently has 131 households, of which over 90% grow cinnamon.

Mr. Ha Van Tien - Head of Khe Ban village, said: Currently, the whole village has only 7 poor households, a decrease of 23 households compared to 2020. Up to 60% of households are well-off and rich. On average, each household grows about 2 hectares of cinnamon.

To increase the value of cinnamon, Bao Ha commune promotes the connection between people and processing facilities. Currently, the commune has a cooperative and dozens of facilities that purchase and produce deeply processed products such as cinnamon flutes, cinnamon sticks, cinnamon splits, etc. for export.

Cau May Agricultural and Service Cooperative is a typical unit that effectively implements the cinnamon growing and consumption chain, creating stable jobs for many workers in the locality and neighboring communes.

Cau May Agricultural and Service Cooperative creates jobs for many local workers from processing cinnamon bark.

Ms. Ly Thi Thuy, Bong village, who is working at the cooperative, said: My family grows 2 hectares of cinnamon in association with the cooperative. Previously, each harvest season, we were worried about selling the products, the price was unstable, now the cooperative buys at a stable price, and we don't have to transport far. In addition, I also work at the cooperative, mainly splitting and classifying cinnamon. The income is stable, more than 7 million VND per month.

Cau May Agricultural and Service Cooperative checks cinnamon quality before selling.

Mr. Ly Van Cau - Director of Cau May Agricultural and Service Cooperative shared: We are linked with more than 20 households growing and purchasing cinnamon raw materials, serving processing and exporting to India, Bangladesh and some European countries. The cooperative regularly promotes people to take care of cinnamon in an organic way, ensuring the quality of exported goods. The link helps farmers feel secure in production, and the cooperative can take the initiative in the source of raw materials.

The commune currently has 4,709 hectares of cinnamon, accounting for 46% of the production forest area, forming a concentrated raw material area, creating a clear advantage for Bao Ha to develop the forest economy. On average, each hectare of cinnamon brings in an income of 200 - 400 million VND, depending on the exploitation cycle and product quality. Thanks to the effective exploitation of this raw material area, many households have become well-off and rich, thereby affirming that cinnamon is the main poverty reduction tree of the locality.

Bao Ha commune currently has 4,709 hectares of cinnamon, providing a stable source of income for the people.

Many households in Bao Ha commune got rich thanks to cinnamon trees.

In the coming time, Bao Ha commune will continue to develop cinnamon growing areas in a concentrated and sustainable manner; encourage people to plant and care for them according to organic processes to increase value and meet market standards.

The commune aims to expand the area associated with improving the quality of cinnamon areas; at the same time, strengthen the connection with enterprises and cooperatives to develop deep processing such as producing essential oils, cinnamon powder, cinnamon incense and handicraft products. This method not only diversifies products, creates more jobs on the spot, but also increases the economic value of cinnamon trees and develops the cinnamon industry in a sustainable direction.

Comrade Tran Trung Kien - Chairman of Bao Ha Commune People's Committee

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/bao-ha-khai-thac-gia-tri-cay-que-de-giam-ngheo-ben-vung-post888229.html