Prospects for cinnamon cultivation in Ba Chẽ

The government has set out key tasks and main targets, including: Converting low- economic- value forestry trees such as (acacia, eucalyptus) to higher-economic-value species such as (cinnamon, pine, sandalwood, cypress... and other large timber trees) to gradually create a sufficiently large raw material area for deep processing and export. This represents not only a change in crop choices but also a significant shift in the people's mindset regarding the development of forestry economics.

People in Ba Chẽ commune harvest products from cinnamon trees. Photo: Bình Minh (CTV)

Given the reality that acacia trees yield low economic returns, have a short cycle, cause soil degradation, and deplete water resources, Ba Chẽ commune has identified the development of cinnamon trees as a strategic, long-term, and sustainable direction. The commune focuses on promoting and encouraging people to convert low-yield acacia forests to large-timber forests and native tree species; at the same time, it has set socio-economic development goals for the 2025-2030 period, striving to reduce acacia acreage by 30% and expand cinnamon cultivation to 5,000 hectares by 2030.

Thanks to effective propaganda and mobilization efforts, people have realized that cinnamon cultivation yields significantly higher economic returns, and have therefore invested in planting this native tree. To date, the people in the commune have planted over 1,000 hectares of cinnamon; on average, 1 hectare of cinnamon yields 3-4 times more income than acacia; the entire trunk, branches, and leaves can be utilized and sold to businesses for processing essential oils and cinnamon powder.

With the support and favorable conditions created by the local Party committee and government, Ba Che Cinnamon Co., Ltd., with its experience in planting, processing, and selling cinnamon products, has implemented a "four-party" linkage model (State - Scientists - Farmers - Businesses), providing technical support for planting, caring for, harvesting, and guaranteeing long-term product purchase at stable prices.

In particular, these days, the unit is urgently completing the infrastructure, factory system, and production lines of the cinnamon processing plant in Nam Kim village, Ba Che commune, with a total investment of 40 billion VND. The plant is expected to be operational by the end of December. The plant will not only purchase raw materials from local people but also process products such as cinnamon essential oil, cinnamon powder, medicinal herbs, and flavorings for export, creating jobs for dozens of local workers and making a significant contribution to the industrial production value of the commune.

Ba Che Cinnamon Co., Ltd. receives its first shipment of raw materials in preparation for production. Photo: Binh Minh (Contributor)

Although not yet operational, the unit has already organized the purchase of cinnamon leaves and branches from local people. These are products that cinnamon growers previously pruned annually to promote growth but discarded as they had no economic value. With a purchase price of 2,000-2,500 VND per kilogram of cinnamon leaves and branches, this has brought significant income to the people. Thus, with its multi-purpose effectiveness – serving as both a large timber tree and providing a harvestable supply of bark, trunk, leaves, and branches – everything can be sold to businesses that process cinnamon essential oil and powder. Ms. Ban Thi Tu, from Nam Kim village (Ba Che commune), happily stated: "Previously, when we planted cinnamon, we just threw away the branches after pruning. Now that the cinnamon essential oil factory is buying everything from the branches and leaves onwards, we are very happy and excited. Because we no longer have to throw away the branches and leaves that we used to care for the cinnamon trees; now we can sell them to the factory." This yields very high economic efficiency.

The policy of expanding cinnamon cultivation to replace short-term acacia trees will create sustainable livelihoods for people to develop economically and become wealthy on their own land. It opens up a new direction for the agriculture and forestry sector of Ba Chẽ commune, affirming the local government's determination to effectively exploit the potential of the forest.

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Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/trien-vong-cay-que-o-ba-che-3387015.html