To develop Bat Do bamboo shoots sustainably and increase their value

LAO CAI Bat Do bamboo is suitable for the climate, soil, and high economic efficiency. Therefore, Lao Cai has a plan to expand the raw material area to 10,000 hectares and deep processing.

Bamboo grows strongly in many localities.

More than two decades ago, many mountainous areas in the provinces of Yen Bai (old) and Lao Cai (old) were mostly bare land, bare hills, or planted with low-yield short-term crops such as corn and cassava. The lives of ethnic minority people faced many difficulties.

Bat Do bamboo hills cover the previously bare land and hills. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Bat Do bamboo, from a strange species, has gradually become a key "poverty alleviation tree", turning steep hills into vast areas of raw bamboo shoots. With an area of ​​up to more than 7,250 hectares, Bat Do bamboo is truly changing the socio -economic landscape of many localities. Bamboo species are particularly adapted to the climate and soil conditions in many areas of Lao Cai. In particular, this type of plant is not only easy to grow and care for, but also has the ability to grow strongly, contributing significantly to soil protection, water retention and landslide prevention...

With the economic benefits that have been affirmed over the years, Lao Cai has planned concentrated raw material areas. Up to now, the bamboo shoot map has been clearly shaped. Some localities have large areas such as: Quy Mong 2,270ha, Hung Khanh 1,896ha, Luong Thinh 635ha, Dong Cuong 364ha, Yen Thanh 195ha, Muong Lai with 260ha, Van Ban with 536ha. Thereby, contributing to creating a large, interconnected raw material area, creating ideal conditions for organizing large-scale commodity production.

Of the total area of ​​over 7,200 hectares, approximately 5,000 hectares are in the stable harvest period. With an average yield of 20-25 tons/hectare/year, each hectare of Bat Do bamboo brings farmers an average income of 70-80 million VND/hectare/year.

Currently, Lao Cai has over 5,000 hectares of Bat Do bamboo with stable harvest. Photo: Thanh Tien.

According to Mr. Vu Minh Phuc, Deputy Head of Lao Cai Provincial Forest Protection Department, a fairly complete purchasing and processing network has been formed in the province. There are 3 large enterprises playing key roles: Yen Thanh Joint Stock Company, Van Dat Company Limited and Yamazaki Company. Along with that, there are many enterprises and more than 10 cooperatives such as Thuy Son Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative, Dan Thang Bamboo Shoot Cooperative, Nam Xe Bamboo Shoot Cooperative, Bat Do Hung Khanh Bamboo Shoot Cooperative... are actively participating in the value chain, organizing primary purchasing and processing.

The main products from Bat Do bamboo shoots are fermented bamboo shoots, dried bamboo shoots and pickled bamboo shoots. These products have found their way to be exported to demanding markets such as Japan and Taiwan (China). This is a positive sign, affirming that the quality of Bat Do bamboo shoots from Lao Cai province can completely conquer and expand the international market.

The majority of Bat Do bamboo shoots in the province (accounting for more than 90%) are still being sold raw or processed very simply (such as boiling and drying by hand). This is like "selling unripe rice", not fully exploiting the income value that can be brought. The greatest added value of bamboo shoots is not in fresh bamboo shoots, but in refined processed products, ready to be served on the dining tables of global consumers.

Expanding the area to 10,000 hectares and moving towards deep processing

Mr. Vu Minh Phuc added that the potential of Bat Do bamboo shoots in particular and other bamboo shoot products of Lao Cai is undeniable. Besides the advantages of natural conditions, high economic efficiency and support policies of the province, the availability of export markets such as Japan and Taiwan (China) is a guarantee for quality.

Bat Do bamboo shoots are processed by businesses and exported raw to Japan. Photo: Thanh Tien.

However, sustainable development and increasing income per unit area still face some obstacles. Firstly, transportation. Fresh bamboo shoots are very heavy, easily damaged and need to be processed quickly. Transporting bamboo shoots from the growing areas, which are mountainous, to centralized processing facilities faces many difficulties in terms of transport infrastructure, pushing up logistics costs and reducing the quality of raw materials.

Second, in terms of processing technology, the existing facilities, including cooperatives, are mostly small-scale, with outdated technology, mainly processing. The province still lacks large-scale factories with modern technology to produce high-value products such as canned bamboo shoots, dried bamboo shoots, instant bamboo shoots, etc.

Third, the "four-house" linkage (Farmers - State - Scientists - Enterprises) has been formed but is not really tight. Farmers are not completely confident in producing according to the process, and enterprises also have difficulty in competing to purchase raw materials.

To turn the potential of the vast bamboo shoot raw material area into a more valuable asset, contributing to increasing income per unit area for farmers, Lao Cai province has set ambitious but practical goals for the coming time. The province aims to expand the area of ​​Bat Do bamboo shoot growing area to 10,000 hectares, increasing the bamboo shoot output to 140,000 tons.

Lao Cai is striving to expand the area and increase the output of commercial bamboo shoots. Photo: Thanh Tien.

In addition, focus on guiding people to apply technical advances in intensive farming. Gradually shift to concentrated production, apply advanced and organic farming processes to improve productivity and quality of raw bamboo shoots, meeting increasingly strict standards of the export market.

In particular, Lao Cai is continuing to roll out the red carpet to invite strategic investors and businesses with financial and technological potential to invest in building deep processing factories right in the raw material area.

The ideal model that the province is aiming for is to build a closed and sustainable production - processing - consumption chain. There, businesses "place orders" according to standards, cooperatives organize farmers to produce, and factories commit to purchasing all products. At that time, farmers will feel secure in getting rich on their land, and businesses will have enough quality raw materials to conquer large markets.

With the determination of the government and the diligence of the people, along with the right investment attraction policies, we believe that the "bamboo barn" of Lao Cai will soon increase its value, bringing sustainable prosperity to this highland land.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/de-vua-mang-bat-do-phat-trien-ben-vung-va-gia-tang-gia-tri-d780522.html