Growing Melaleuca from native sources to serve medicinal refining in Phong Dien

Take advantage

With a natural area of ​​592.48 km², of which forestry land accounts for 94%, Phong Dien ward is the locality with the largest forest land fund in the whole city. Phong Dien Nature Reserve is more than 35,000 hectares wide, surrounded by production forests and protective forests, creating a diverse ecosystem, which is a favorable condition for many indigenous medicinal plants to grow.

According to the survey results of the specialized agency, in Phong Dien ward there are 526 species of plants with medicinal value belonging to 127 families, of which 27 are rare and endangered, listed in the Vietnam Red Book and IUCN Red List. The main species that can be developed into a medicinal commodity area include: purple Morinda officinalis, Cynomorium barbata, Chinese smilax glabra, Chinese ginseng, etc. Each group of plants is suitable for different ecological sub-regions, such as Cynomorium barbata in streams, Cynomorium barbata in poor forests, and Cynomorium barbata in pine forests of Phong Xuan commune (old).

Mr. Nguyen Ba Thao, Deputy Head of the Forest Protection Department in the North of the city, said that with an area of ​​more than 37,000 hectares of natural forest, more than 9,000 hectares of planted forest, and a coverage rate of over 75%, Phong Dien has ideal conditions for developing a model of growing medicinal herbs under the forest canopy. In the context of economic development associated with environmental protection, exploiting and promoting the advantages of natural forests to develop medicinal herbs under the forest canopy is a suitable direction, both creating livelihoods for people and contributing to protecting forest resources and the ecological environment.

In recent years, Phong Dien town (old) has received support from many international projects and city programs to research and test medicinal plants. For example, the Truong Son Xanh Project sponsored by USAID has implemented a model of planting Morinda officinalis and Atractylodes Rhizome in Phong My and Phong Xuan communes (old) (now both belong to Phong Dien ward) with a scale of more than 30 hectares. After more than 3 years, the trees have grown well, the survival rate has reached over 90%, bringing initial income to the people.

However, according to the assessment of the representative of the Economic - Infrastructure and Urban Department of Phong Dien ward, the biggest challenge now is the lack of capital to maintain after the project ends and the unstable output of products. People have the technology and forest land, but to form a large-scale raw material area, there needs to be a business to accompany and consume the products, at the same time the city needs to have a preferential credit mechanism, support for seeds and technical training for the model to develop sustainably.

Forming key medicinal herb areas

From the positive results of the pilot models, Phong Dien is being included by Hue city in the project to develop medicinal material areas until 2030, associated with the program "One Commune One Product" (OCOP). The locality is also coordinating with institutes, schools and businesses to research the process of breeding, planting and processing high-value indigenous medicinal species.

According to the orientation, medicinal plant growing areas will be zoned for conservation combined with community livelihood development. Households assigned forests will be supported with seedlings and intercropping techniques under the canopy of natural forests or planted forests. Developing medicinal plants will not only help increase forest cover but also create a new economic value chain for people in buffer zones living near forests.

Ms. Hoang Thi Ngoc Ly, Director of Cong Thanh Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, said that in order to expand the Hue cajuput material area to serve the company's essential oil production, Cong Thanh is choosing a material area to cooperate with households growing Hue cajuput in Phong Dien town (old). By participating in the cooperation, the Company ensures stable and long-term purchase of raw materials, ensuring stable prices. Households participating in the cooperation are supported with planting, care and harvesting techniques to ensure the quality of input leaves to maintain the natural essential oil content.

Phong Dien aims to have a medicinal plant growing area of ​​about 500 hectares by 2030, combining ecotourism and medicinal plant experience. This model not only creates high-value products but also develops community tourism, contributing to increasing forest value and preserving biodiversity.

To harmoniously combine conservation and development, between economy and ecology in the development of medicinal plant areas, functional sectors and local authorities continue to guide people to preserve rare genetic resources, and at the same time, transplant new medicinal plant species that must adapt to soil conditions and have high value.

Phong Dien is building a coordination mechanism of "4 houses": the State, scientists, businesses and people to take advantage of concentrated medicinal plant development, under the forest canopy in a methodical planning direction, applying technology and being consumed by businesses, creating products with high added value. This is considered an effective and sustainable direction, helping Phong Dien not only become a "green capital" but also become a "precious medicinal garden", a key medicinal plant area of ​​Hue city and the North Central region.

Article and photos: Hoai Nguyen

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/nong-nghiep-nong-thon/de-phong-dien-tro-thanh-vung-trong-diem-duoc-lieu-cua-hue-159359.html