The "green gold" journey

Amidst the undulating mountains of the Northwest, where nature has bestowed upon the land and sky abundance and immense greenness, Van Yen - a land located in the north of the province - has been writing a proud story of sustainable agricultural development from cinnamon trees - the "green gold" of the mountains and forests. Cinnamon trees are not only an agricultural product but also a symbol of the will, aspiration to rise up and the steadfast belief of thousands of households here.

Báo Yên Bái•07/05/2025

When visiting Yen Bai in 1958, President Ho Chi Minh once advised the Party Committee, government, and people of all ethnic groups: "We must make the forest green again". Taking note of this sacred teaching, the Van Yen District Party Committee concretized it in the Resolution of the 16th Congress, term 2020 - 2025, and identified cinnamon as a key crop in forestry economic development and poverty reduction.

From Uncle Ho's advice and the Party's resolution, Van Yen's "green gold" journey began. It was the journey of countless honest farmers, weather-beaten but full of determination, who day by day cultivated each green sprout between the land and sky.

The family of Mr. Trieu Tien Bao, Khe Lo village, Phong Du Thuong commune is one of the households that have been attached to cinnamon trees for a long time. From his ancestors, Mr. Bao and his wife and children have persistently planted 1-2 hectares of cinnamon every year, making use of every arable land.

He excitedly shared: "Every year my family plants more cinnamon, up to now there are more than 15 hectares, of which 10 hectares are being exploited, regularly earning over 300 million VND/year. Thanks to cinnamon, my family has a more fulfilling life."

Not only in Phong Du Thuong, Vien Son commune is also changing strongly thanks to cinnamon trees with a total area of over 2,700 hectares of cinnamon, each year the commune plants 150 - 200 hectares of new trees.

Comrade Ly Huu Quan - Chairman of the Commune People's Committee said: "Cinnamon trees have become a stable source of income, helping more than 200 households in the commune earn over 100 million VND/year. This is truly a "savings" for the future".

In Ngoi A commune, the 2024 Farmer Support Fund has motivated 10 member households with a capital of 400 million VND. Young cinnamon shoots are growing every day, promising a bumper crop in the next few years.

Ms. Hoang Thi Vui - a member of the Farmers' Association of Ngoi A commune excitedly shared: "With capital support, we have more confidence in cinnamon trees. Hopefully in 5 years, these cinnamon trees will help us change our lives."

Phong Du Thuong - one of the eight key cinnamon growing communes of the district is writing a new chapter with a clean, organic cinnamon growing model. More than 200 households have converted from traditional farming to organic production, ensuring quality and meeting export standards. The initial successes open up great opportunities for local people.

Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Phong Du Thuong Commune - Sieu Van Dong excitedly shared: "The whole commune currently has more than 2,850 hectares of cinnamon, of which 300 hectares have met organic standards. People are not only less poor but also gradually getting rich. There are families who earn billions of dong from cinnamon each year."

That story is no longer a dream but is becoming a reality in every village and hamlet. Each cinnamon clump, each deep green hillside is a symbol of revival and sustainable development. In almost all 25 communes and towns of Van Yen, the green color of cinnamon trees has spread strongly with the total planting area of the district reaching about 60,000 hectares.

Every year, local people and farmer members plant 2,000 - 3,000 hectares of cinnamon, not only greening bare hills but also bringing a stable source of income to thousands of households. In particular, key areas in the geographical indication area of Van Yen cinnamon have become the "cinnamon capital" of the province such as: Phong Du Ha (2,112 hectares), Xuan Tam (3,371 hectares), Chau Que Ha (4,789 hectares), Mo Vang (4,695 hectares) ...

Along with expanding the growing area, Van Yen farmers also actively contribute to brand building. In 2010, the geographical indication "Van Yen Cinnamon" was recognized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Office; by 2020, this product continued to be recognized by the Thai Intellectual Property Office and certified to meet European and American standards with over 10,730 hectares of organic cinnamon.

Annual revenue from cinnamon trees has exceeded 1,000 billion VND, bringing a prosperous and stable life to the people, while creating jobs for thousands of rural workers. Cinnamon is not only a crop but has become a symbol of sustainable economic development, associated with environmental protection and preserving national cultural identity. The vast cinnamon fields are like green streaks on the agricultural economic map of the district.

Van Yen, with "green gold" covering the hills and mountains, is becoming more and more radiant in the development picture of "green - harmony - identity - happiness", just as the goal set by the District Party Committee. That journey is not only a journey of economic development but also a journey of preserving nature, preserving culture and nurturing the dreams of thousands of people in the mountains and forests of Yen Bai.

Tran Ngoc

Source: https://baoyenbai.com.vn/12/349870/Hanh-trinh-vang-xanh.aspx