Cao Bang chestnuts: A livelihood to escape poverty for mountain people

When autumn comes, the mountainous communes of Cao Bang are covered in the bright yellow color of ripe chestnut gardens. As a famous specialty, chestnuts have contributed to hunger eradication and poverty reduction for the people.

The aspiration to escape poverty from ancient chestnut trees

Cao Bang , a mountainous land in the Northeast, is famous for its majestic landscapes, beautiful rivers and waterfalls. But few people know that one of the typical products of this land is chestnuts - a precious gift of nature bestowed upon the people here.

With over 30 years of developing the chestnut growing profession, the communes of Trung Khanh, Dam Thuy, and Dinh Phong have gradually become the chestnut "capitals" of Cao Bang province. The green chestnut gardens, full of fruit, especially in the fall, when the chestnuts begin to ripen, create a beautiful scene.

Chestnuts are a specialty of the mountainous region of Cao Bang (Photo: Cao Bang Electronic Information Portal)

Cao Bang chestnuts are not only loved for their sweet, fragrant flavor but also have high nutritional value, used in many traditional dishes of local people. However, the true value of chestnuts lies not only in their culinary benefits, but also in the economic potential they bring to the people.

Previously, the people of Cao Bang highlands lived mainly on traditional farming with rice, corn, and cassava. But thanks to the development of chestnut growing, people's lives have changed a lot. Chestnuts have become the main source of income, helping many families escape poverty and become rich.

Cao Bang chestnuts are mainly grown in the communes of Trung Khanh, Dam Thuy, and Dinh Phong, where the climate and soil conditions are ideal for chestnut trees to grow. In particular, the ancient chestnut trees, which have existed for decades, are now not only a symbol of this land but also an important source of income for the people.

According to Mr. Le Van Hai, a long-time chestnut farmer in Trung Khanh commune, his family used to live mainly on farming agricultural products such as rice and corn. But since chestnut trees were widely planted, his family has had a much more stable income. "Chestnut trees are easy to grow, do not require much care, but give a regular harvest. Each crop, my family collects 3-4 tons of chestnuts, bringing in a considerable income," Mr. Hai shared.

Not only Mr. Hai’s family, many other households have also applied the chestnut growing model combined with perennial tree care, increasing the value of the product. Cao Bang chestnuts are not only consumed in the province but also exported to other provinces, even to China, Korea, Japan – very demanding markets with high product quality requirements.

In order for Cao Bang chestnuts to not only be consumed within the province, the provincial government and farmer support organizations have paid great attention to building a brand for the product. Building the brand "Cao Bang Chestnuts" has helped this product to be easily recognized and appreciated by consumers.

Since 2015, Cao Bang provincial government has been issuing product certification for Cao Bang chestnuts, helping consumers feel more secure about the quality and origin of the products. Cao Bang chestnuts have been granted "OCOP" certification, the products have traceable origin and guaranteed quality.

Participating in exhibitions and e-commerce platforms also helps Cao Bang chestnuts have the opportunity to access larger markets. Recently, at the Vietnam Agricultural Fair, Cao Bang chestnuts have attracted the attention of many distributors, clean food stores and international customers. Processed products from chestnuts, such as roasted chestnuts and grilled chestnuts, have also begun to be widely processed and consumed, increasing the economic value of this agricultural product.

Challenges and solutions for sustainable development

Although Cao Bang chestnuts have become a typical product of the province, to develop sustainably, there are still many challenges that people need to overcome. One of the biggest problems today is that chestnut cultivation has not really been organized into production - consumption chains. People still grow on a small scale, without close cooperation between households, leading to difficulties in ensuring product quality and quantity to supply large orders.

In addition, the preservation and processing of chestnuts after harvest is also difficult, as chestnuts are easily damaged if not properly preserved. Local authorities and organizations have recognized this problem and are promoting the construction of cold storage and modern preservation systems to help chestnuts maintain their quality for a longer time.

In addition, training skills for people, helping them apply technology to production, plant care and market development is necessary to improve productivity and product quality. Organizations are also implementing training courses on processing techniques, packaging products to make them attractive, suitable for the tastes of modern consumers.

Cao Bang chestnuts, a famous specialty with delicious flavor, have not only brought stable income to the people in the highlands but also contributed to changing the economic face of mountainous communes such as Trung Khanh, Dam Thuy, Dinh Phong. This is a clear demonstration of the strength of traditional agricultural products when applying science and technology and sustainable development policies. With the support of the government and supporting organizations, Cao Bang chestnuts will continue to be one of the key agricultural products, contributing to improving the lives of the people in the mountainous areas of Cao Bang.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/hat-de-cao-bang-sinh-ke-thoat-ngheo-cua-nguoi-dan-mien-nui-429528.html