Expectations from sandalwood trees in the Cam Lo hilly region.

In order to diversify medicinal plants and aim to develop the locality into a medicinal plant center of the province, Cam Lo district has recently introduced many types of medicinal plants for trial cultivation and expansion, including sandalwood. Although only recently planted, this plant is growing rapidly, promising high income potential for farmers.

Farmers in An My village, Cam Tuyen commune, Cam Lo district, tend to sandalwood trees - Photo: ANH VU

After nearly a year since planting, the sandalwood trees in the hills of An My village, Cam Tuyen commune, have grown to a height of 1.5-2 meters. Locals say that despite a severe dry season and a prolonged rainy season, the survival rate of the sandalwood trees is over 95%, and they are growing quickly and uniformly. This shows that this tree species is very suitable for the soil and climate conditions in Cam Lo.

Mr. Tran Minh Khanh's family planted 150 sandalwood trees on an area of ​​6 sao (approximately 0.6 hectares), interspersed among fruit trees whose canopies have not yet closed. Mr. Khanh said that since planting, they have fertilized, cared for, weeded, and mounded the soil around the base of the trees three times. Currently, the trees are growing very well, with some reaching over 2 meters in height.

“I have experimented with planting many types of trees, especially medicinal plants, but I found sandalwood to be very suitable for the soil and climate conditions in this hilly area. The planting time was in March 2023, followed by a prolonged period of intense drought and then cold rain, but the survival rate of the trees was very high and they developed well, especially with almost no pests or diseases. I hope that when the harvest is ready, the company will purchase and guarantee the purchase of the product from the farmers as committed so that we can have more income and improve our lives,” Mr. Khanh shared.

In early 2023, Cam Lo district collaborated with the Institute for Sandalwood and Rare Plant Research to conduct a trial planting of sandalwood trees in Cam Tuyen commune. Twelve households participated, planting 4.5 hectares (equivalent to nearly 2,000 trees). This land had previously been used by local people to grow fruit trees, but the canopy had not yet closed. During the implementation of the model, the District People's Committee supported 50% of the cost of seedlings and bio-fertilizers, equivalent to over 62 million VND. In addition, the people received training on techniques for planting, caring for, controlling pests and diseases, harvesting, and post-harvest preservation.

These households have also formed a cooperative to support each other in planting, caring for, and protecting the trees from damage by livestock. According to Tran Tho Binh, Vice Chairman of the Cam Tuyen Commune People's Committee, the entire area of ​​sandalwood trees in An My village is currently thriving, so the people are very excited, confident, and hopeful about this crop. The local government continues to coordinate with the district's agricultural sector to guide farmers in caring for and controlling pests and diseases according to the technical procedures provided by the Institute of Sandalwood and Rare Plant Research.

Sandalwood is a medicinal plant originating from India that has only recently been introduced to Vietnam. The sandalwood tree has the advantage of utilizing all parts of the plant—from the heartwood, roots, leaves, seeds, and wood waste—to produce essential oils, cosmetics, etc., thus yielding a relatively high economic value and earning it the nickname "green gold."

Planting sandalwood trees is low-risk because it is an intercropping practice. People who already have orange, pomelo, or rosewood orchards can intercrop sandalwood trees and still earn income from both crops. Sandalwood can be grown in various soil types such as sandy soil, red soil, clay soil, laterite soil mixed with clay, and gravelly soil, but it requires good drainage as it cannot tolerate waterlogging.

Sandalwood trees begin yielding leaves in their third year; from the fourth to the thirteenth year, they produce fruit with an average yield of about 1.5 kg/tree/year; from the thirteenth year onwards, they harvest wood, with each tree yielding an average of 20-30 kg of heartwood, including trunk heartwood, root heartwood, and branch heartwood. Currently, fresh sandalwood leaves are priced at around 100,000 VND/kg; fruit at 150,000-200,000 VND/kg; and heartwood at 1-5 million VND/kg (depending on size).

According to Dr. Vu Thoai, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Vietnam Sandalwood and Rare Plant Research Institute, each hectare of sandalwood trees, from the time the leaves and fruits are harvested to the entire trunk and roots, yields an income of approximately 500-700 million VND. However, this also depends on the planting density, the care process, and what other plants are intercropped with them.

“Currently, we have a policy to develop sandalwood growing areas in Cam Lo, and then we will build a factory to process the products further to support the output for farmers. At the same time, we have signed an agreement with the Cam Lo District People's Committee and the people to guarantee the purchase of the output of the two main products: sandalwood seeds and wood,” Mr. Vu Thoai added.

Mr. Vu

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/ky-vong-tu-cay-dan-huong-o-vung-go-doi-cam-lo-184907.htm