We visited Lam Thuong in mid-July, the peak season for bamboo shoots. Along the winding concrete roads around the hillsides, the most familiar sight was farmers carrying heavy bundles of fresh bamboo shoots on their backs.
From villages like Nặm Chắn and Khéo Lẹng to newly annexed areas, laughter and chatter, the rustling sound of knives peeling bamboo shoots, and the distinctive aroma of boiled fresh bamboo shoots fill the air.
The scorching summer sun seems unable to slow down the bustling pace of work here. Everyone is making the most of every precious hour of sunshine. The strong climb the hills to harvest, while the elderly and children stay at home to help peel and slice the bamboo shoots. Every yard is utilized to the fullest extent to dry batches of bamboo shoots, preparing for a season of supply to the market. It's a picture of enthusiastic labor, reflecting the joy and hope for a bountiful harvest.
To better understand the effectiveness of this plant, we visited the family of Mr. Hoang Van Ghi in Kheo Leng village.
With over 10 years of experience, Mr. Ghi considers his 2 hectares of bamboo shoots his most valuable "asset".
He enthusiastically shared: “This bamboo shoot is easy to grow and requires little care; all you need to do is clear the weeds and the plants will grow on their own. From the third year onwards, it starts yielding a steady harvest. With the current stable price of fresh bamboo shoots at around 5,500 – 6,000 VND/kg, each hectare brings my family tens of millions of VND, enough to cover living expenses and pay for my children's education.”
Not far away, the family of Mr. Hoang Van Uc in Tong Pang village is also busy with the harvest season. Mr. Uc said that bamboo shoots are truly a "poverty alleviation" crop for the villagers.
Mr. Uc calculated: "Compared to growing cassava or corn, bamboo shoots provide a much higher and more stable income. One hectare of bamboo shoots, once established, can yield 25-30 tons per year. With an average income of 60 to 90 million VND per hectare, many families in the commune have not only escaped poverty but also become wealthy."
Previously, bamboo shoots thrived primarily in the former Lam Thuong commune. However, after the merger of three more communes—Mai Son, Khanh Thien, and Tan Phuong—the total area of bamboo shoot cultivation in the new Lam Thuong commune is now 497 hectares. Of this, the former Lam Thuong commune contributed 350 hectares, the former Mai Son commune 67 hectares, the former Khanh Thien commune 35 hectares, and the former Tan Phuong commune 45 hectares. This figure demonstrates the enormous potential and pivotal role of bamboo shoots in the commune's economic structure.
According to agricultural officials, the technique for growing bamboo shoots is not too complicated. Farmers usually plant them at a density of 400-500 clumps per hectare. After only 3 years, the plants begin to yield a stable harvest. In the early years, the average yield is about 15-20 tons per hectare. From the following years, when the bamboo clumps have matured, the yield can reach 25-30 tons per hectare per year.
With a total area of nearly 500 hectares, it is estimated that Lam Thuong commune can supply the market with over 12,000 tons of fresh bamboo shoots annually, bringing a huge income to the local people.
Besides selling fresh bamboo shoots, the people of Lam Thuong also focus on further processing to enhance the product's value. Dried bamboo shoots are a prime example. The process of making dried bamboo shoots requires meticulousness and effort. After harvesting, fresh bamboo shoots are boiled, thinly sliced, and dried under the scorching sun for 3 to 5 days. The effort is well rewarded when dried bamboo shoots sell for many times more, ranging from 150,000 to 180,000 VND/kg.
Notably, the "Lam Thuong Bamboo Shoot" brand has been certified as a 3-star OCOP product since 2020. This is a significant step forward, affirming the quality and opening up broader market opportunities for the product. OCOP products have traceability labels using QR codes, helping consumers to have more confidence in the quality and safety. Furthermore, the bamboo plant offers a double benefit: the leaves can be sold to traders for export, while the stems can be used as building materials and household items.
Speaking with us, Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan – Chairman of the People's Committee of Lam Thuong commune, affirmed: “Bamboo shoots are an irreplaceable strength of the locality. Basically, it is a native plant, suitable for the soil and farming conditions of the people. The commune government will continue to accompany and support people in applying science and technology, expanding markets and maintaining the OCOP brand. We aim to develop bamboo shoots sustainably, not only to alleviate poverty but also to create legitimate wealth on our homeland.”
It can be said that bamboo shoots are more than just an agricultural product. For the people of Lam Thuong, it is a symbol of diligence, the fruit of their hard work, and, most importantly, the hope for a bright and prosperous future.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/lam-thuong-ron-rang-vao-vu-mang-mai-post649072.html
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