Lao Cai ethnic people preserve precious medicinal herbs under the forest canopy

Having been in the traditional medicine business for many years, Ms. Lo Quynh Hoa, in Ta Ngao village, Ban Qua commune, Bat Xat district, always appreciates every time she harvests precious medicinal herbs from nature. When harvesting, she always leaves the roots, does not harvest young plants, and clears the grass so that the plants can continue to regenerate and grow. Many precious medicinal herbs have also been successfully grown in her home garden. "Typically, we can grow bath leaves in low-lying areas such as the hammer plant and herbal plants for kidney stones and liver diseases such as the golden needle plant and the gardenia plant," Ms. Hoa added.

Ms. Le Thi Kieu Hoa, Chairwoman of the Farmers' Association of Ban Qua Commune, Bat Xat District, also said: "We always encourage people to propagate and care for medicinal herbs that can be grown at home or expanded locally for long-term use. As for medicinal herbs that cannot be grown, when exploited, they must be preserved and cared for so that the medicinal herbs can grow and be used many times."

Ms. Lo Quynh Hoa always has a sense of conservation when exploiting medicinal herbs in nature.

Van Ban is a locality with great potential for developing medicinal plants. Many units and enterprises have successfully invested in exploiting this valuable resource. For example, The Tuan Cooperative in Chieng Ken Commune, Van Ban District, has an annual revenue of over 1 billion VND from specializing in extracting essential oils from herbs.

To preserve and effectively exploit medicinal plants, Mr. An Van Tuan, representative of The Tuan Cooperative, said: "First, it is to exploit in a sustainable way. Second, we will plant more and are researching how to propagate the Dai Bi tree to give to people to plant and care for; buy back the raw materials to extract essential oils, produce herbal tea, and herbal extracts."

Lao Cai strives to have medicinal herb area of over 5,000 hectares by 2030.

Van Ban aims to form a medicinal plant production area with stable and sustainable development, linking production with ecotourism exploitation. It is expected that by 2025, an additional 280 hectares will be developed.

Mr. Luong Thanh Huong, Vice Chairman of Van Ban District People's Committee, added: "Calling for investment from businesses to plant and develop some medicinal plants in the district, focusing on areas with strengths in medicinal plants such as: Nam Chay, Nam Xay, Liem Phu, Nam Tha, Chieng Ken".

Lao Cai strives to have a medicinal plant area of over 5,000 hectares by 2030, with an output of 28,000 tons and a value of over 900 billion VND. Combining exploitation with conservation and development of suitable medicinal plant growing areas will contribute to realizing this goal; at the same time, creating sustainable livelihoods for the people and promoting agricultural development in the spirit of Resolution 10 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee.

Ngoc Minh

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