"Sweetness" of artichoke

Mr. Lu was very pleased because artichokes were fetching a good price.

These days, Mr. Má A Lừ and many other households in Group 2, Hàm Rồng Ward, are busy harvesting their fourth crop of artichoke leaves for the 2024-2025 season. This year, artichoke leaves are selling for 2,300 VND/kg, and Mr. Lừ is very pleased. "To grow artichokes, you have to plant them early to get a good harvest, and getting a lot of leaves makes the work worthwhile. Now that we're growing them for a company, we have to grow them organically so they can buy them later for medicinal purposes," shared Mr. Má A Lừ, Group 2, Hàm Rồng Ward, Sa Pa Town.

Sa Pa currently has about 50 hectares of artichokes, concentrated in Ta Phin commune, Ham Rong ward, and Sa Pa ward, with approximately 160 households participating. Artichoke plants are well-suited to the climate and soil, so farmers don't need to spend much time caring for them. Each artichoke crop yields 8 harvests of leaves, averaging 25 days per harvest. From selling the leaves, each household earns an average of about 100 million VND per crop. Mr. Giang A Kinh, from Group 2, Ham Rong ward, Sa Pa town, shared: "This year the price is 2,300 VND/kg, which seems reasonable. Since we grow so many artichoke plants, the company buys them all."

Mr. Giàng A Chơ, from Group 1, Hàm Rồng Ward, Sa Pa Town, shared: "Compared to growing corn or rice, the yield is higher. After harvesting, the company comes to buy it, and we just transport it ourselves."

Artichoke growers don't have to worry about sales, as TraphacoSapa Co., Ltd. buys their produce at a stable price.

All harvested artichoke leaves are purchased by TraphacoSapa Co., Ltd. at a stable price. On average, the company buys more than 2,500 tons of artichoke leaves per year from farmers in Sa Pa, worth over 6 billion VND. The company also educates and guides farmers on planting, caring for, and harvesting techniques to achieve the highest efficiency. Mr. Do Tien Sy, Director of TraphacoSapa Co., Ltd., shared: "The company signs contracts with each farmer to create a binding agreement and reassurance for all parties involved, gradually building professionalism and creating a strong and sustainable partnership over the years."

The bumper crop of artichoke, a medicinal herb, yields high economic value, further affirming the locality's success in crop diversification, opening up a path for sustainable economic development and increasing income for people in the highlands.

The Long - Thanh Thuan

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