Building Ngoc Linh Ginseng brand to the world market

Ngoc Linh ginseng is considered a treasure of the Vietnamese people, a particularly rare ginseng species, only on the top of Ngoc Linh mountain in the territory of the two provinces of Quang Nam and Kon Tum has the right soil conditions, the soil has many special minerals for ginseng to grow.

In order to protect and promote the Ngoc Linh ginseng brand, in August 2016, the Intellectual Property Office granted a certificate of geographical indication registration for Ngoc Linh ginseng products to the two provinces of Quang Nam and Kon Tum.

Ngoc Linh ginseng in the forest. Photo: Internet.

In Quang Nam province, Ngoc Linh ginseng is mainly grown in Nam Tra My district. According to the plan, Nam Tra My district has more than 15,500 hectares of Ngoc Linh ginseng grown in 7/10 communes. However, currently in Nam Tra My district, 9/10 communes grow Ngoc Linh ginseng and other medicinal plants.

Mr. Tran Duy Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Tra My district, Quang Nam province, said: Quang Nam province, Nam Tra My district also has a support mechanism for ethnic minorities to develop Ngoc Linh ginseng, including leasing forest environmental services, supporting 80% of capital for people growing Ngoc Linh ginseng. Currently, in Nam Tra My district, there are 18 enterprises investing in planting and developing Ngoc Linh ginseng and 1 enterprise has invested in building a medicinal processing factory. In the future, we hope to attract more enterprises to invest in deep processing of products from Ngoc Linh ginseng, such as: medicinal herbs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, drinking water... to increase the value of Ngoc Linh ginseng.

Ngoc Linh ginseng has many uses in treating diseases and improving health, so it has a very high economic value. In Nam Tra My district, there are about 1,600 households growing Ngoc Linh ginseng. Most households growing Ngoc Linh ginseng have become well-off and their economies have developed. Mr. Pham Hung, a ginseng grower in Nam Tra My district, Quang Nam province, said: Ngoc Linh ginseng plants must be grown for 5 years or more before they can be harvested. About 30 ginseng plants produce 1 kg of ginseng roots. 1 kg of ginseng roots is currently sold for about 85 million VND (nearly 3,500 USD). Ginseng plants live in the forest. When growing ginseng, you have to prepare the soil carefully with humus and plant it in the canopy of old forest trees to preserve the ginseng plants. Ngoc Linh ginseng grown on Ngoc Linh mountain has a different value and quality. The older the ginseng, the more valuable it is. My family grows several thousand ginseng plants in the garden. If the weather is favorable, we can earn several hundred million VND or up to 1 billion VND in profit per year.

Ngoc Linh ginseng plant with complete roots, stems, flowers, leaves, and seeds. Illustration photo.

In June 2023, the Prime Minister approved the Vietnam Ginseng Development Program to 2030, with a vision to 2045. Accordingly, by 2030, Vietnam will conserve natural ginseng genetic resources in association with forest protection and development, biodiversity conservation in forest ecosystems and strive for a ginseng growing area of ​​about 21,000 hectares by 2030, with 100% of the ginseng growing area being granted a growing area code and geographical indication. By 2045, ginseng will be developed into an internationally branded product, striving to make Vietnam a major ginseng producer in the world. After the Vietnam Ginseng Development Program, Quang Nam province has promoted the application of technology in cultivating and developing Ngoc Linh ginseng, promoting and enhancing the promotion of Ngoc Linh ginseng products.

Mr. Ho Quang Buu, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Nam province, said: Quang Nam province's policy is to develop into a medicinal center of the Central Highlands. This policy has been approved by the Prime Minister. People grow ginseng, develop ginseng at the same time as protecting forests and the environment.

Ngoc Linh ginseng products. Photo: Internet.

Nam Tra My district regularly organizes ginseng festivals and Ngoc Linh ginseng markets, creating a market for ginseng consumption and promoting local agricultural products. This is also a place for farmers and businesses to meet and exchange techniques for growing and caring for Ngoc Linh ginseng and other medicinal plants. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huynh, Director of Huynh Sam One Member Limited Liability Company (Nam Tra My district), said: Every time a ginseng festival or ginseng fair takes place, I bring ginseng to sell. The company was established in 2016, planting 5 hectares of ginseng. Ginseng needs to be grown at an altitude of 1,800 m - 2,000 m above sea level. The requirement is to have humus soil to grow ginseng. Grown naturally, in the summer, water the plants once every 10 days to 1 month, but in the rainy season, watering is not necessary. Ngoc Linh ginseng is used to soak in wine and honey, ginseng leaves are used to make tea, and fresh ginseng roots are eaten directly. The world has recognized Ngoc Linh ginseng as the best ginseng in the world.

Vietnam is a country with the potential to develop Ngoc Linh ginseng into a key economic sector, which can reach a commercial value of billions of USD/year in the near future. Ngoc Linh ginseng has also been approved by the Government as a national brand product, a "national treasure" of Vietnam and included in the list of prohibited exploitation, belonging to 250 rare species in the Red Book.

In that context, Quang Nam province has been carrying out the work of preserving and developing Ngoc Linh ginseng with the goal of building and developing Ngoc Linh ginseng into a national brand, gradually bringing Ngoc Linh ginseng products to the world market./.

Vietnam.vn