Sweetness of the forest

Thanks to the favorable natural conditions, clean climate, and abundant vegetation, including many types of wildflowers, beekeeping has developed rapidly, and honey products from Mu Cang Chai are increasingly popular, becoming the main source of income for many families.

>> Mu Cang Chai honey, a gift from "Mother Nature"

Mu Cang Chai produces 65-70 tons of honey per year.

>> "Sweetness" of the highlands

Developing honey products with unique characteristics of Yen Bai.

Blessed with favorable soil conditions, a clean climate, and abundant vegetation with many natural forests, Mu Cang Chai district has encouraged its people to develop beekeeping for honey production. The family of Mr. Giang A Trau in Nam Khat village, Nam Khat commune, has been involved in beekeeping for over 10 years.

Having overcome many difficulties, Mr. Trau has now accumulated a wealth of experience, constantly seeking knowledge and actively participating in technical training courses to improve his skills. To date, his family owns over 70 bee colonies, yielding 1,000 to 1,200 liters of honey annually, with a stable selling price of 180,000 to 200,000 VND per liter. Mr. Trau's honey product has also been recognized as a 3-star OCOP product.

Like the Giàng A Trầu family, Mr. Giàng A Phềnh in Dào Xa village, Kim Nọi commune, is effectively maintaining a honey beekeeping model with 85 hives, utilizing his family's land and orchards. In good years, the bees yield 1,200-1,300 liters of honey. Besides beekeeping, Mr. Phềnh also cultivates 200 orchid plants and over 100 plants of the seven-leafed one-branched flower, providing him with a stable source of income.

Mr. Phenh shared: "I myself have had the opportunity to visit and learn from economic development models, especially beekeeping models for honey production. I find beekeeping not as strenuous as livestock farming, and the economic profit is higher. In the future, I hope that the Party Committee and local government will have appropriate policies to create conditions for my family to borrow capital, learn, and apply techniques to ensure the quality and yield of honey.”

To date, Mu Cang Chai district has 6,248 bee colonies, mainly concentrated in the communes of De Xu Phinh, Pung Luong, Nam Khat, La Pan Tan, Lao Chai, Nam Co, and Cao Pha. The district has one cooperative and more than 20 beekeeping groups, with an average honey production of about 65-70 tons per year, generating revenue of over 10 billion VND annually. Most people in Mu Cang Chai have traditional beekeeping experience using local bee breeds combined with beekeeping methods in natural forests without the use of antibiotics… creating a brand for Mu Cang Chai honey products.

Mr. Truong Dang Hung, Chairman of the District Farmers' Association, stated: "Implementing Action Program No. 10 of the Provincial People's Committee on implementing Resolution No. 20 of the Executive Committee of the Yen Bai Provincial Party Committee, 19th term, on developing the agricultural sector towards improving quality, efficiency, and added value associated with building sustainable new rural areas in Yen Bai province, giai đoạn 2021 - 2025, the district has focused on development in the direction of maximizing the district's potential and advantages; building medium and large-scale specialized commodity production areas linked in value chains, improving product quality and production value. The honey bee farming model, along with other economically effective agricultural models, has contributed to changing the mindset and production methods of the people…".

It is evident that, after many years of support and investment from the State, people no longer rely on the government, nor do they passively accept poverty. Instead, they strive to improve their lives, learn, and apply scientific and technological advancements to farming and livestock development, based on exploiting the strengths of their land and climate conditions.

By correctly identifying the direction in economic construction and development, and with the efforts of Party committees, government agencies, and the people in the fight against poverty, beekeeping models for honey production have contributed to the socio-economic development of Mu Cang Chai district.

Mai Linh

Source: https://baoyenbai.com.vn/12/351482/Mat-ngot-huong-rung.aspx