The "green gold" tree helps the Co people escape poverty.

VHO - With soil and climate suitable for cinnamon trees, for generations, the Co people in Quang Ngai have chosen cinnamon as their main crop in economic development. Cinnamon trees are likened to "green gold," helping people escape poverty, increase income, and green barren land and hills.

Mr. Ho Van Hung has a long-standing connection with traditional cinnamon cultivation.

Mr. Ho Van Hung, a member of the Co ethnic minority in Bang village, Thanh Bong commune, Quang Ngai province, is one of the people with a long-standing connection to traditional cinnamon cultivation. He is also the largest cinnamon grower in Bang village.

Mr. Hung doesn't remember exactly how many cinnamon gardens he owns or how many cinnamon trees he has planted. He only knows that with the cinnamon seedlings provided by the government and those his family has grown themselves, he plants an additional 5,000 to 6,000 trees each year.

"Cinnamon trees have become the main crop providing income for my family, helping to cover household expenses from major things like building a house to daily living costs," Mr. Hung shared.

In Thanh Bong commune, every Co ethnic minority household grows cinnamon. On average, each household has 1 to 2 hectares of cinnamon trees. In recent years, thanks to support projects under national target programs such as the sustainable poverty reduction program and the socio-economic development program for ethnic minority and mountainous areas, the cinnamon planting movement has developed more strongly.

People harvest cinnamon bark.

The Party Secretary and Head of Bang village, Thanh Bong commune, said: “The Co ethnic people live closely connected to cinnamon trees, which provide them with income to build houses, raise their children, and buy household equipment. In recent years, with government support, households have registered, with some receiving 5,000 to 10,000 trees.”

Developing agricultural and forestry production remains a strength that many localities are promoting in order to increase income and reduce poverty sustainably for the people. Communes considered the cinnamon capitals include Tay Tra Bong, Thanh Bong, and Tra Bong.

By participating in the cinnamon cultivation project based on a value chain linkage model, cinnamon growers in Thanh Bong commune are closely monitored throughout the cultivation process. As a result, they have learned how to cultivate cinnamon according to technical procedures and have invested more in its care.

Mr. Ho Van Nam is tending to his cinnamon garden.

Mr. Ho Van Nam, residing in Nguyen village, received 5,000 cinnamon saplings from the socio-economic development program for ethnic minority and mountainous areas. After nearly two years of care, the cinnamon trees are now thriving and growing healthily.

“My family has cultivated cinnamon trees in many places for a long time, providing us with an annual income. Recently, the government provided us with 5,000 seedlings, which we have planted, cared for, and they are growing well. We are very grateful to the government, and we will strive to maintain and develop local cinnamon cultivation to generate additional income each year,” Mr. Nam said.

Currently, Thanh Bong commune has over 1,345 hectares of cinnamon trees. The local authorities have developed a cinnamon tree development plan with the goal of expanding cinnamon cultivation by 50 hectares annually by 2030, bringing the total cinnamon area in the commune to nearly 1,600 hectares.

Thanh Bong commune develops 50 hectares per year.

According to Le Van Chien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Bong commune, the commune has identified the focus on developing cinnamon cultivation and planning a local cinnamon growing area to increase its value. The immediate goal of the project is to preserve the cinnamon variety and maintain the existing cinnamon growing area of ​​approximately 1,345 hectares. Based on this, the People's Committee will develop projects annually to expand the area by about 50 hectares each year.

Focus on allocating support resources from state programs while leveraging local resources in breeding and protecting genetic resources. This will develop Tra Bong cinnamon cultivation, maintain and develop the existing Tra Bong cinnamon brand, and create marketable products to increase the value of cinnamon and income for the people.

The successful implementation of the cinnamon tree development project will contribute to achieving the goal of reducing the multidimensional poverty rate in Thanh Bong commune by an average of 20% annually, and eliminating poverty by 2030.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/dan-toc-ton-giao/cay-vang-xanh-giup-dong-bao-co-thoat-ngheo-175522.html