Bo Chinh ginseng flowers are sun-dried for one day before being purchased by customers.

The early morning sun casts a golden glow over the rice paddies in Huong Phu commune, once considered a difficult area to cultivate during the dry summer months, but now overflowing with the vibrant red of Bo Chinh ginseng flowers in full bloom. “Bo Chinh ginseng is a finicky crop, requiring special care. Cold weather or prolonged rain can damage the plants. To prevent fungal diseases and root rot caused by changing weather, we have to monitor the weather closely to implement timely preventative measures,” Toan shared.

Before venturing into ginseng cultivation, Mr. Toan spent many years working in flower and vegetable farming in Da Lat, receiving formal training from large-scale growers. Returning to his hometown to start his own business, he chose chrysanthemums as his primary source of income . Every Tet (Lunar New Year), his 10-acre chrysanthemum garden bursts into vibrant yellow, providing a stable income for his family. He not only grows flowers for Tet but also proactively rotates his planting schedule, ensuring a constant supply of flowers to meet market demand during the full moon and new moon of each lunar month.

A few years ago, Typhoon No. 6 swept through, destroying two greenhouses used for growing chrysanthemums belonging to Mr. Toan's family, causing nearly half a billion dong in damage. This incident forced him to find a new direction. Recognizing that Bo Chinh ginseng was suitable for the local soil and had a stable market thanks to his partnership with Hoang Gia Company, he boldly switched crops. From a few plots of ginseng planted experimentally initially, Mr. Toan has now expanded to nearly 3 hectares, becoming one of the pioneers in bringing Bo Chinh ginseng to the highlands of Nam Dong (now Phu Loc district).

Mr. Toan shared that a Bo Chinh ginseng crop lasts 9 months. After about 3 months of planting, the plants begin to flower. Every morning, about 10 laborers are busy in the fields harvesting the flowers before the intense sun, preventing them from fading and reducing their medicinal properties. During the peak flowering season, the workforce doubles, sometimes mobilizing up to 20 people a day. On average, Mr. Toan's ginseng garden harvests about 300 kg of fresh flowers each morning, which are then dried in the sun and delivered to purchasing partners. If the harvest is good, one plot of ginseng can bring in an income of 45 to 50 million VND.

Having accumulated considerable experience through trial planting and expanding the model, Mr. Toan gradually became a technology transfer expert for cultivating Bo Chinh ginseng in neighboring communes. His ginseng garden is not only a production site but also a model for many farmers inside and outside the district to visit and learn from. Some localities such as Huong Son and Thach Ha (Ha Tinh province) have invited him to provide technical advice, with support up to 45 million VND per trip. Due to his busy farming work, he chooses to provide free guidance via phone and video , sending it directly to farmers on how to identify pests, diseases, and mold.

According to Mr. Toan, there is still no specific cure for diseases affecting Bo Chinh ginseng, so prevention plays a crucial role. "Just a few days of carelessness can result in the complete loss of the entire field. Regularly updating weather information, increasing garden inspections, and carefully observing each row of plants are things that cannot be neglected," he said.

Not only has Toan developed his family's economy and created jobs for local workers, but he has also spread the belief that with effort, even in arid land, "fussy" but potentially valuable crops can still bear fruit. This spirit has been recognized with a certificate of merit from the District Farmers' Association and commendation from the Commune People's Committee.

Text and photos: Ha Le

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/sam-bo-chinh-no-hoa-tren-dat-can-154630.html