Rosin drops and worries about food and clothing

(Baohatinh.vn) - Pine resin, the "white gold" that once helped many families in Cam Due commune (Ha Tinh province) escape poverty and become wealthy. However, the price of pine resin is now at a record low, making it difficult to make a living from pine forests.

Ke Go Nature Reserve (Cam Due Commune) is not only a "green lung" but also a place that is closely associated with the livelihood of hundreds of households. For them, the vast pine forests here are resources, a source of life, and a source of hope.

However, the lives of 150 households assigned to more than 700 hectares of pine forest are full of difficulties. Every day, they have to go into deep forests and steep hills to cut trees and collect sap. This is a job that requires health, perseverance and always has many potential risks and hardships.

The pine forest is managed by Ke Go Nature Reserve.

Mr. Dao Xuan Anh (Cam Due commune) shared: “For decades, our livelihood has been based on exploiting pine resin. This job is hard but we have to do it because we live near the forest. However, recently the price of resin has been too low, and the income is not commensurate with the effort.”

Having worked in the pine forest for nearly 25 years, Ms. Phan Thi Hien (Cam Due commune) has never faced such difficulties as she does now. The price of pine resin has dropped from 27,000 VND/kg to only 16,000 VND/kg, making the already difficult life of Ms. Hien and those working in the profession even more difficult.

Ms. Phan Thi Hien (Cam Due commune) exploits a 30-year-old pine forest.

Ms. Hien said: “Every day I have to wake up at 4am, walk nearly 8km of steep mountain roads to reach the pine resin exploitation site. I don’t leave the forest until 12pm, the weather is unpredictable, the work is hard, and now the price of resin has dropped, working all day but only earning around 200,000 VND.”

The price of pine resin has dropped, and people's lives are always in a state of "tightening their belts". The worry is not only about daily bread and butter but also about the future of their children. Many people want to find other jobs, but in this area, besides the pine forest, there is nothing else to do.

Leaders of Ke Go Nature Reserve inspect the pine resin exploitation of contracted households.

Mr. Phan Duy Khai - Deputy Director of Ke Go Nature Reserve informed: “Recently, the low price of pine resin has greatly affected the lives of the people. We have also contacted many purchasing units inside and outside the province to find ways to help the people. At the same time, we have promoted and mobilized people to stick to the forest, exploiting resin while taking care of and protecting the forest so that pine trees can grow and develop well.”

Despite the many difficulties, the people in the buffer zone of Ke Go Nature Reserve still cling to their land and protect the forest day and night. For them, each pine tree is a friend, the future of their children. Hopefully, the drops of pine resin will no longer be a burden but will bring a more stable and prosperous life, worthy of the hardships they have put in.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nhung-giot-nhua-thong-va-noi-lo-com-ao-post293896.html