The season for harvesting "forest bounty"

From anise forests and cinnamon gardens, ethnic minority people in Binh Lieu have risen to prosperity.

Bustling autumn season for harvesting "forest bounty"

Binh Lieu is a mountainous district where 96% of the population are ethnic minorities. The climate and soil here are suitable for developing various forest products, especially star anise and cinnamon. From the Lunar New Year until the end of March is the star anise harvesting season. The tall, fruit-laden star anise forests, with their high essential oil content, provide a significant income for the local people in this mountainous region.

As April and May arrive, when the autumn leaves have faded from the branches, it's time for cinnamon to be harvested. Cinnamon is a native tree that the people of Binh Lieu cultivate, intertwining with their daily lives. On sunny days, everyone goes to peel cinnamon bark, transport it back home, scrape the bark, cut it, and dry it. The strong, characteristic aroma of cinnamon spreads throughout the area. Not only the bark is harvested, but the branches, roots, and leaves are also used to distill essential oils, make medicine, and spices. Currently, Binh Lieu is also developing essential oil and scented sachet products made from cinnamon.

Here, cinnamon trees have been a cherished part of generations, like a "close friend," a "gift" from the forest that plays a crucial role in poverty alleviation and wealth creation. Many families consider cinnamon a precious "green gold," a "treasure" to be passed down to future generations.

Ms. La Thi Bang, from Ban Chuong village, Luc Hon commune, shared with the reporter while walking into the forest to harvest cinnamon bark that cinnamon trees can be harvested multiple times, selling everything from the bark to the trunk and leaves. Currently, her family has about 1 hectare of cinnamon forest that is ready for harvest.

“On average, one person can peel more than 40kg of cinnamon bark per day. Since the beginning of the season, my family has harvested and sold nearly 30 million VND worth of cinnamon. The income from cinnamon helps me and many other families cover daily living expenses and support our children's education. This year, my family is planting more than 10,000 cinnamon trees to both reforest the area and increase our family income.”

As April and May arrive, when the cinnamon leaves have faded from the branches, it's time for the cinnamon harvest.

Planning is needed for sustainable development.

In Huc Dong commune, about 50% of households are growing cinnamon and star anise, with a total area of ​​over 1,000 hectares. Income from the forest is stable, and well-cared-for cinnamon and star anise will yield high production. The family of Mr. Chiu Tac Lo, in Su Cau village, Huc Dong commune, has 4 hectares of cinnamon and star anise. The income from cinnamon and star anise has brought high economic efficiency to the family each year. “In the last three cinnamon and star anise harvests, my family earned about 500 million VND. I think the income from cinnamon and star anise is quite stable; if we work hard to care for them, we will achieve high yields,” Mr. Lo shared.

In fact, people in Binh Lieu can earn hundreds of millions of VND per hectare, with some families earning billions of VND per year from cinnamon and star anise. The locality is also striving to improve the quality and value of cinnamon and star anise products through processing, branding, and aiming towards developing eco-tourism and community-based tourism .

According to a report from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Lieu district, the area of ​​anise plantations covers more than 8,000 hectares, accounting for 28.6% of the total planted forest area in the district. The average yield of dried anise over the past three years has reached over 800 tons, generating approximately 120 billion VND per year. The area of ​​cinnamon plantations covers approximately 680 hectares, accounting for 2.2% of the total planted forest area in the district. The annual harvest yields over 390 tons of dried cinnamon bark, generating approximately 39 billion VND per year.

“To improve the productivity and quality of cinnamon and star anise in the coming time, Binh Lieu district will strengthen propaganda, mobilization, and training on the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge on intensive cultivation of star anise and cinnamon trees in an organic direction; attract businesses to cooperate with local people, invest in essential oil processing facilities to increase the value of products; and propose to the Department of Science and Technology to carry out the task of building a geographical indication for Quang Ninh star anise,” emphasized Ms. Le Thi Thu Huong, Head of the Agriculture Department of Binh Lieu district.

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Source: https://baodantoc.vn/mua-hai-loc-rung-1718699990471.htm