Sweet grass on Muong Hum land

With this area of rice fields, if grown with good care and favorable weather, Mr. Lo would only earn about 6 million VND, but since switching to growing stevia, his income has increased to 36 million VND.

Since switching to growing stevia, Mr. Lo has had an income of up to 36 million VND.

Mr. Chao Lao Lo, Ky Quan San village, Muong Hum commune, Bat Xat district shared: “When I took about 2,000 trees to try planting. Seeing that they were suitable for the land, I planted more, currently 15,000 trees. Compared to rice, the economic value is about 4 times higher.”

After researching and realizing that stevia can be grown on Muong Hum land, Mr. Truong Van An, from Muong Hum village, went to Nghia Lo town, Yen Bai province to learn about the experience of growing and caring for this crop. Then, he went to the Agricultural Institute to buy seeds and cooperate with local people to pilot planting 2 hectares. Participating in the linkage model, local people are supported with seedlings, fertilizers, instructions on planting techniques, care and product consumption. After 3 years, the stevia linkage model has had 10 households participating, with an area of over 4 hectares. To increase the value of stevia products, Mr. An established a Cooperative, building a product that meets OCOP 3 stars.

Mr. An in Muong Hum village went to Nghia Lo town, Yen Bai province to learn about growing and caring for this plant.

Mr. Truong Van An, Muong Hum village, Muong Hum commune, Bat Xat district said: "When planting stevia, it has obvious effects. The plant grows well, is suitable for the soil and people also plant it together, I also want to expand it not only in Muong Hum area".

Mr. Chau Van Chung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong Hum Commune, Bat Xat District said: "We consider stevia to be one of the crops with high economic efficiency. Firstly, it is easy to care for and suitable for soil conditions in Muong Hum Commune. At the same time, to evaluate, our people have actually planted it and have had initial harvests. Initially, the crop can be widely replicated in the area."

1 kg of dried stevia is purchased by Mr. An for people to make tea at a price of 100,000 - 200,000 VND.

4 hectares of stevia, if well cared for, will yield about 20 tons of dry grass per year, with an estimated economic value of 2 billion VND, after deducting expenses, the cooperative will earn 1 billion VND. With the economic value brought, Muong Hum commune is planning to support the cooperative to develop production linkage groups, expand the stevia growing area to about 15 - 20 hectares, increase income for people, and contribute to building a new countryside.

Viet Hung - Thanh Thuan

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