New directions in economic development

Coming to Bum To in October, we saw that on the hillsides, cinnamon trees grew green and spread out, covering the previously abandoned hilly areas or areas planted with ineffective trees. The green color of cinnamon today is evidence of a clear change in the economic development mindset of the people here, from small-scale, fragmented production to growing trees with higher economic value. Among them is cinnamon - a tree that is easy to grow, has few pests and diseases, is suitable for steep terrain, thick soil layer, and cool, humid climate.

Bum To commune officials ( first from right ) check the development of cinnamon trees.

We visited the cinnamon hill of Mrs. Vang My La's family (in Huoi Han village) - one of the pioneer households growing cinnamon. Mrs. La shared: "With support in seedlings, techniques, and fertilizers, my family, as well as many households in the village, switched to growing cinnamon in 2017. After a period of care, we saw that the cinnamon trees grew well, so we expanded the area. Currently, my family has more than 10 hectares of cinnamon, which has harvested branches and leaves for distilling essential oils. From cinnamon, my family earns about 30 million VND per crop."

Not only Mrs. La's family, many other households have also converted ineffective crop areas to cinnamon. Up to now, the whole commune has more than 711 hectares of cinnamon, of which the newly planted area this year is 11 hectares, raising the commune's forest cover rate to over 57%, contributing to improving the ecological environment, limiting soil erosion and minimizing natural disasters.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee: "Determining cinnamon as a key crop, suitable for natural conditions, the commune proactively builds plans and mobilizes people to expand cinnamon planting areas. In particular, the commune has integrated cinnamon development with land and forest allocation programs, increasing people's initiative in managing, protecting and exploiting forests sustainably."

Chief of Huoi Han village, Bum To commune ( first from right ) guides people in pruning cinnamon branches.

It is known that after about 5 years of planting, cinnamon trees can start to harvest branches and leaves for distilling essential oils. After 10 years, cinnamon growers can exploit cinnamon bark. All parts of the cinnamon tree from the trunk, leaves, branches to bark can be used to make essential oils, spices and medicinal ingredients...

To facilitate the people, the commune directed the associations, unions, and the Fatherland Front to support people in accessing preferential loans from the Muong Te Social Policy Bank Transaction Office. During the planting process, cinnamon growers are guided by the authorities on how to choose seeds, prepare the soil, plant, care for, and prevent pests and diseases so that the trees can grow well...

Families proactively support each other in planting and caring for cinnamon trees by exchanging labor and sharing experiences, contributing to creating a vibrant competitive labor atmosphere and community cohesion.

People of Bum To commune actively take care of cinnamon trees.

Cinnamon trees are gradually taking root in Bum To land, initially creating more jobs, income and awareness of legitimate enrichment for the people. Thanks to that, the average income per capita of the commune has reached 35 million VND/year, the poverty rate has decreased over the years to 26%.

In the coming time, the commune will continue to propagate and mobilize people to develop cinnamon trees in a sustainable way, expand the area, improve the quality of planted forests; focus on caring for and protecting cinnamon forests, and guide people to implement technical measures in accordance with the process to improve cinnamon productivity and quality. Strengthen links with businesses to form production chains, gradually build brands, and improve the competitiveness of products in the market.

Source: https://baolaichau.vn/kinh-te/huong-di-moi-trong-phat-trien-kinh-te-822942