Growing cardamom increases income and protects forests

In recent years, people in the highland communes of Bac Yen district have exploited the land area under the forest canopy to grow cardamom, contributing to increasing income, improving living standards and protecting the forest.

Farmers in Hang Chu commune harvest cardamom.

Hang Chu is one of the communes with the largest area of cardamom in Bac Yen district. With cool climate, fertile land, large forest area, many streams, high humidity, suitable for growing cardamom and this tree has become the tree to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty of the commune.

As the first person to bring cardamom to grow under the forest canopy in Hang Chu commune, Mr. Giang A Chu, Pa Cu Sang village, shared: In 2006, I took cardamom seeds from Van Ban district, Lao Cai province to test-plant 1 hectare under the forest canopy. Seeing good growth, I continued to take seeds to grow, expanding to more than 3 hectares. Currently, each year, I harvest more than 10 tons of fresh fruit, earning more than 200 million VND. Along with that, I propagate and mobilize people in the village to grow cardamom under the forest canopy, associated with forest management and protection. In cardamom growing areas, I propagate people not to encroach on or cut down forests, and at the same time plant forests, increase coverage, and create shade for cardamom to grow.

Up to now, Hang Chu commune people have planted more than 300 hectares of cardamom, with an output of over 470 tons of fruit/year, contributing to creating livelihoods for people in the highlands living on forestry, many households have stable incomes, escaping poverty from cardamom cultivation. At the same time, contributing to raising people's awareness in protecting and caring for forest areas.

The cardamom growing movement has also been expanded to the communes of Hang Dong, Ta Xua, Xim Vang, Lang Cheu... Mr. Ho A Mang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hang Dong commune, said: The commune has 508 households, 3,142 people, of which more than 90% of households grow cardamom, households with small incomes earn 30-40 million VND/year; households with large incomes earn 150-200 million VND/year. Currently, the commune has more than 120 hectares of cardamom. For sustainable development, in addition to encouraging the expansion of cardamom growing areas, the commune coordinates with specialized agencies to open training courses, instructing on technical processes for planting, caring, harvesting, preserving, and improving the quality of local cardamom products.

Focusing on developing medicinal plants in the district, including cardamom, in recent years, Bac Yen district has integrated capital sources and policies to implement projects and programs to support seedlings; sent staff to guide people on techniques for intercropping medicinal plants under forest canopy; cared for and prevented pests and diseases for medicinal plants. Opened training courses on harvesting techniques and post-harvest preservation to ensure quality; promoted the promotion and consumption of cardamom products...

Ms. Duong Thi Lan Huong, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bac Yen district, said: From 2017 to now, the district has implemented 6 projects to support 523 households to plant 341 hectares of medicinal plants, with a total cost of more than 4.4 billion VND. At the same time, the district has developed a dried cardamom product that meets the provincial 3-star OCOP standard. It is expected that by 2030, the district will continue to support people to plant 400 hectares of new cardamom trees, contributing to increasing income, improving people's lives and awareness of forest protection and development. Along with that, it encourages people to establish cooperatives and link to consume cardamom products sustainably.

To date, Bac Yen district has nearly 563 hectares of cardamom trees, with an output of nearly 550 tons/year; the average value of cardamom trees grown under natural forest canopy brings in about 40 million VND/ha. Thanks to the large consumer market, being sought out by many traders, and stable output, cardamom has been chosen as a key crop, creating a driving force for economic development in the highland communes of Bac Yen.

It can be seen that cardamom cultivation is a suitable direction in increasing income, eliminating hunger and reducing poverty for people in the highland communes of Bac Yen district. For sustainable development, cardamom growers hope that the district will continue to support the application of science and technology, connect with businesses to consume products, especially invest in post-harvest preservation and processing technology, helping farmers feel secure in sticking with cardamom.

Article and photos: Huy Thanh

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