When the dổi tree is no longer "golden grain"
Not long ago, the dổi tree (a type of nutmeg) was considered the "golden seed" of the Mường Be region. At one point, the price of dried dổi seeds reached 2.5 - 2.7 million VND/kg, and the people of Mường Be only needed one harvest to have enough to eat for the whole year. But in the last 3 years, the price has dropped sharply. Currently, dried dổi seeds are worth less than 100,000 VND/kg.
In the entire Muong Be region (including the hamlets of Be Trong, Be Ngoai, and Be Tren), there are currently about 300 households growing dổi (a type of tree) with a total area of approximately 40 hectares, equivalent to more than 20,000 trees of various ages; of which nearly 5,000 trees are already producing fruit. Dổi trees typically take 8 years to flower and bear fruit, but if planted using grafted saplings, they can bear fruit in about 4 years. The older the tree, the higher the value of its wood and seeds – which is why people once considered dổi as a "savings" for their descendants.
However, the cultivation of nutmeg in the Central Highlands is now thriving, grown on large areas, yielding harvests after only 3-4 years and producing two crops per year. Central Highlands nutmeg seeds are sold at a low price, making it difficult for Muong Be nutmeg seeds – despite their strong aroma and high essential oil content – to compete. The bustling scenes of harvesting and drying nutmeg seeds, once vibrant, now only exist in memory.
The nutmeg orchard of Mr. Bui Van Dich's family in Be Ngoai hamlet is left to fall naturally and will not be harvested this season.
Mr. Bui Van Bun from Be Trong hamlet, who was once considered the household with the highest yield of nutmeg in the region, said: “In the past, every household was as joyful as a festival during nutmeg season. Some climbed to pick, some dried, and some gathered. Now, the nuts fall to the ground and no one bothers to pick them up. This year, the storm knocked down several nutmeg trees near my house, and I had to cut them down. I feel very sad, as if I’ve lost something familiar.”
The nutmeg trees in the Muong Be region are towering, with straight trunks; some require two people to encircle them. To harvest the seeds, locals have to hire skilled climbers, as climbing these trees is very dangerous. Each season, the cost of hiring climbers can be several hundred thousand dong per tree. With the current low seed prices, income doesn't cover expenses, so many households simply let the seeds fall to the ground, collecting whatever they can, and leaving the rest as... a gift from nature.
After the recent Typhoon No. 10, the hillsides of the Muong region have become even more desolate. Heavy rains caused flooding, landslides, and many trees have fallen, with broken branches scattered everywhere. The once peaceful Muong land is now steeped in sadness. There are no longer the sounds of children gathering seeds, only fallen leaves and the smell of damp earth after the storm...
The struggle to preserve the "lucky tree" and the faith in the Muong land.
For the Muong people here, the dổi tree is not only an economic tree but also a cultural and spiritual tree – a symbol of prosperity and stability in every household. Therefore, in the face of the situation where many households are cutting down dổi trees due to low seed prices, Ms. Bui Thi Loi – who was once involved with the dổi salt product of Chi Dao Agricultural Cooperative and is now the Chief of the Party Committee Office of Thuong Coc commune – shared: “Even with low prices, we still encourage people to keep the trees. The dổi tree is a lucky tree for the Muong people, providing shade, fresh air, and protection from rain and sun for the roofs. If properly maintained and cultivated, these straight rows of dổi trees can become a very beautiful and unique tourist destination of the Muong region.”
Ms. Bui Thi Loi added that the Chi Dao Agricultural Products Cooperative continues to produce Lac Son nutmeg salt. This is an OCOP product that consumers trust. "The nutmeg seeds here have an essential oil content one and a half times higher than in many other places. We will continue to promote and improve the quality so that consumers understand the true value of Muong Be nutmeg seeds," she affirmed.
In Muong Be, the dổi tree (a type of tree) not only provides seeds but also serves as a witness to memories. Since the time of our ancestors, the dổi tree has sheltered stilt houses from rain and sun, provided shade on hot summer afternoons, and imparted a rich aroma to dipping sauces, grilled meats, and stream fish. The dổi tree is intertwined with life, from food to stories, from the rhythm of labor to the consciousness of the Muong people.
Now, seeing the fallen dổi fruits scattered under the trees, the people of Mường Be not only regret the loss but also feel a sense of unease, as if they have lost a part of their homeland's soul. "Dổi is no longer 'golden seeds,' but the dổi tree is still a 'lucky tree' of Mường Be. I hope our people won't cut it down; let's preserve it so that future generations will still know what the dổi tree is..." - Mr. Bun's words sounded like a sigh.
The storm season has passed, and the hills are once again lush and green. And hopefully, one day soon, laughter will resound on the slopes – where the "trees of fortune" of Muong Be still steadfastly hold onto the land, waiting for the golden harvest to return.
Doi seeds have long been a signature product and a source of pride for the Muong people, and were a typical OCOP product of Lac Son district in the past. Doi seeds are not only known as a "golden" spice in Muong cuisine but are also used in folk medicine as a valuable remedy. From doi seeds, people process essential oils for massage and soak them in alcohol to treat aches and pains, improve blood circulation, and relieve joint pain. |
Hong Duyen
Source: https://baophutho.vn/tran-tro-giu-nbsp-cay-loc-muong-be-241121.htm
Comment (0)