Cutting glue: A "boost" for the economy of households in coastal areas

In the morning, the owners of acacia gardens here often drink tea and coffee with friends. Around 8-9am, many people drive motorbikes, some drive pickup trucks to visit the planted forest gardens. It is very leisurely, because before that, they were also busy with planting and caring for the trees. When the acacia trees are in their 2nd or 3rd year, they hire people to take care of the forest gardens so that the trees grow strongly and can be harvested soon.

Mr. Truong Van Dong in Village 2, who has owned 15 hectares of acacia plantations for more than 20 years, said: “The price of acacia wood is basically stable, the forest is carefully planted and taken care of, and after 4 years it will be harvested and generate income. Last year, my family harvested 12 hectares, the selling price was 130 million - 140 million VND/ha, after deducting expenses, we earned nearly 100 million VND/ha. The remaining 3 hectares will be exploited at the end of July, with a similar profit. The acacia plantations in the first year also intercropped with cassava for an additional 20 million VND/ha.” Mr. Truong Van Dong’s effective forest planting method was recognized by the People’s Committee of the old Ham Tan district as “Good Farmer in Production and Business” in previous years.

Similarly, Mr. Phan Thanh Son, in Bau Gieng village, Son My commune, owns a 15-hectare acacia forest garden. “I have harvested many times in recent years, earning about 100 million VND per hectare. This perennial crop is in high demand, many acacia growers in Suoi Bang and Suoi Tu villages are taking advantage of harvesting when the acacia is ready to be exploited, and planting new trees during this rainy season. In the first season, farmers can intercrop crops such as cassava next to rows of young acacia. In the second year, when the acacia leaves close, growers focus on taking care of it until harvest. The old Thang Hai commune alone planted more than 950 hectares of acacia,” Mr. Phan Thanh Son shared.

Currently, in Son My commune, there are nearly 50 households owning 10 hectares or more of acacia cuttings, while the majority of people have 2-3 hectares and the annual new planting area is high. Not to mention the large acacia area planted by Binh Thuan Forestry Company in Son My commune, the locality has several thousand hectares of acacia forests of various types planted by farmers on upland land, bare hills, coastal land and even in old cashew gardens that have been cut down. During this season, several hundred hectares have been sold by garden owners to traders for exploitation. Many households in the commune have had a stable income from this raw material forest planting profession.

Thanks to that, the area of acacia is increasingly large, covering many barren lands. The acacia output in the area is mainly sold to small traders who are the main suppliers for a few enterprises in Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), Ho Chi Minh City, processing paper, wood packaging, and wood chips for export. The locality encourages enterprises to invest in building more purchasing facilities and raw acacia processing factories to improve the economic efficiency of forest planting.

Acacia trees in the coastal area of Son My commune have brought a stable source of income to the people, while contributing to ensuring forest cover and protecting the ecological environment in the area. Not only that, with its own biological characteristics, acacia trees also have the ability to increase soil fertility.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/keo-giam-hom-cu-hich-kinh-te-ho-khu-vuc-duyen-hai-381879.html