Effectiveness of the cultivation model for hairy ginseng and smooth ginseng.

Taking advantage of the land in their orchards, mixed gardens, and vacant land around their houses, many farmers in An Giang province are growing hairy ginseng and smooth ginseng. This model has proven to be highly effective economically, helping farmers increase their income and improve their lives.

The model of cultivating hairy ginseng has helped Mrs. Kieu's family increase their income and stabilize their lives.

Mr. Truong Tan Loi's family in An Hoa hamlet, Ba Chuc commune, cultivates ginseng intercropped with mango trees on an area of ​​1,000 square ^meters . Although the area is not large, according to Mr. Loi, this crop yields higher profits compared to many other local crops. Mr. Loi said that currently, his family harvests about 800 kg of ginseng leaves every 1.5 months. Ginseng leaves sell best in the months leading up to the Lunar New Year, with traders coming directly to the farm to buy them. "Even with high prices, 60,000-80,000 VND/kg, ginseng is in high demand, and production cannot meet market needs," Mr. Loi shared.

Hairy ginseng is a climbing vine. To save space, Mr. Loi designed a trellis using ropes and raised it high. This allows him to grow many hairy ginseng vines in the same area, making harvesting easier and preventing them from falling over. According to Mr. Loi, with good care, hairy ginseng can be harvested after only 5-6 months of planting. The larger the vine, the higher the yield. During cultivation, Mr. Loi invested in an automatic irrigation system, saving water and reducing labor costs.

Ms. Phan Thi Kieu in An Thanh hamlet cultivates approximately 300 square ^meters of hairy ginseng. Ms. Kieu stated that with this area, she harvests 130 kg of leaves each month. “My garden has only been planted for two years, but we’ve already harvested over 2 tons of leaves, bringing in over 120 million VND in income, so my family is very happy. The market is favorable; most buyers use them to make refreshing jelly or dry them into powder,” Ms. Kieu said. Every day, in addition to weeding, fertilizing, and tilling the soil, Ms. Kieu goes to the garden to guide and support the hairy ginseng vines, helping them climb more easily. According to Ms. Kieu, if not adjusted promptly, the vines will curl, producing fewer leaves and reducing yield.

According to many households in Ba Chuc commune, hairy ginseng is an easy-to-grow plant, requiring little care and being resistant to pests and diseases. However, to succeed with this model, growers must understand its growth habits and care for it properly to ensure stable leaf yields. Hairy ginseng needs plenty of water but cannot tolerate waterlogging, so low-lying areas must have proper drainage. When first planted, seedlings need to be protected from sun and rain. Since ginseng is grown for its leaves, fertilization is necessary, along with protection against leaf-eating insects, powdery mildew, and brown planthopper. In addition, growers should apply well-rotted manure as a base fertilizer to provide sufficient nutrients for large and thick leaves. With proper care, hairy ginseng vines can live for decades.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhu Binh in Binh Hoa commune cultivates approximately 3,000 ^{square meters of} smooth ginseng. According to Ms. Binh, smooth ginseng is easy to grow, resistant to pests and diseases, and only requires regular fertilization and monitoring of the vine's growth to be harvested year-round. From planting to harvesting takes only about 3 months. Each ginseng plant can consistently produce leaves for 2-3 years before the vines need to be cut to regenerate the crop.

“Every day, depending on the orders, my family harvests 20-50kg of ginseng leaves to sell to customers, mainly in Ho Chi Minh City. With a selling price of 50,000-60,000 VND/kg, the ginseng garden brings a considerable income to the family,” Ms. Binh shared. Previously, when growing smooth ginseng, Ms. Binh made trellises from wood, but they easily rotted and had to be replaced frequently. Later, she switched to iron frames. Although the initial cost was quite high, tens of millions of VND, it is more durable and harvesting is easier. Thanks to the hanging trellis model, all that's needed is to lower the ropes, strip the leaves, sort them, and then rewind the ropes, allowing the young leaves to continue growing…

With the increasing demand for natural beverage products, the market for ginseng leaves has the potential to expand. This not only reassures growers about sales but also motivates them to expand their production scale.

Text and photos: PHI ĐIỆP

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/hieu-qua-mo-hinh-trong-sam-long-sam-tron-a196642.html