Grow organic cinnamon, 10-15% higher income

Recently, Tran Yen District (Yen Bai Province) promotes organic production methods for the district’s main crops, especially in cinnamon production, thereby helping to improve the environment and safety, ensure people’s health, and bring products to the most demanding markets.

Ms. Tran Thi Hoa’s family in Village 6, Dao Thinh Township (Tran Yen District) owns more than 5 hectares of forest land to grow cinnamon. Currently, Ms. Hoa’s family and other households in the village are participating in the local organic cinnamon growing program. By participating in the organic cinnamon growing program, their families and households have access to whole new knowledge about cinnamon growing methods.

The old method involves growing cinnamon trees from seed, selecting varieties based on experience, applying chemical fertilizers based on estimates, using chemical pesticides to prevent pests and diseases… When converting to organic cinnamon, people use agricultural by-products combined with probiotics as Fertilizers that preserve vegetation to reduce erosion, create moisture, porosity and fertility for the soil, protect beneficial natural enemies…

Ms. Tran Thi Hoa shared, “We live and adhere to the forest profession, the source of daily living water is also from the forest. Therefore, the use of organic production methods not only ensures the health of the people themselves, but also protects the water source and prevents the soil from being degraded. Cinnamon products in particular are bought by cooperatives at a higher price after the harvest.”

Dao Thinh Township is a place bordering the Red River, the soil climate is favorable for the growth and development of cinnamon trees, the quality of cinnamon essential oil is highly appreciated by experts, the cinnamon bark is thick, and the cinnamon tree is less susceptible to pests and diseases. At present, Dao Thinh Township, covering a total area of ​​more than 900 hectares, has made people sign up for nearly 700 hectares of organic cinnamon production.

Cinnamon trees start harvesting, pruning, leaves from the 5th year, by the 10th year the finished cinnamon bark can be collected. The older the cinnamon tree, the higher the essential oil content, the higher the value. On average, Dao Thinh Township grows about 80 hectares of cinnamon every year, each hectare brings in an income of 500-600 million Dong.

Certified organic products are the first choice for high-end markets such as Japan, Korea, USA and European countries. Because these items are manufactured according to a set of principles and international standards aimed at protecting the ecosystem of plants and animals and creating high quality and safe products for users.

Mr. Chu Duc Hien, Chairman of the Dao Thinh Township People’s Committee, said, Organic cinnamon products are made without using harmful chemicals, with an emphasis on balancing the natural ecosystem. The main purpose of organic farming is to maximize the health and productivity of the community and to improve the “health” of soil, crops, livestock and people. Organic production has helped the value of the community people’s cinnamon products to be about 10-15% higher than traditional cinnamon products, opening up great opportunities in trade promotion and export promotion, and laying a foundation to increase the income of the community increase people.

More than 2,200 hectares of cinnamon meet international organic standards

Since the 1990s, cinnamon has helped transform the lives of people in Kien Thanh Township (Tran Yen District). With a natural area of ​​more than 8,600 ha, the whole township has more than 2,700 ha of cinnamon so far, concentrated in Dong Song, Dong Phay, Dong Ruong, Dong Cat and Da Khanh villages. The movement of people in the community to grow cinnamon has become lively over the years, with people growing cinnamon and people growing cinnamon.

Cinnamon trees planted when they are 5 to 6 years old are harvested and thinned out, every year there are 2 harvests, the March harvest and the August harvest (each harvest lasts 2 to 3 months), these are the 2 times when cinnamon is harvested Easy to peel, convenient for use, transportation and storage.

It is estimated that the income of people in the community will reach over VND115 billion in 2022 from cinnamon trees. The organic cinnamon production movement is also spreading among the people. So far, more than 1,300 ha of organic cinnamon have been cultivated in Kien Thanh, which accounts for about 45% of the area. The income from cinnamon has helped many households in the community earn hundreds of millions of dongs a year.

Mr. Duong Kim Hung, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Kien Thanh Township, shared: In order to promote organic cinnamon production, local authorities have coordinated with enterprises and specialized units to open training courses and the process of planting, tending and harvesting households to monitor closely in the material realms; Regularly take samples for inspection, recognize quality indicators in time.

Also, by applying a series of techniques in the cultivation and cultivation of organic cinnamon, Kien Thanh Municipality has helped Kien Thanh Municipality to conserve the genetic resources of the cinnamon variety and protect the water, soil and environment in the planning area. Organic production methods have changed the way people think about the application of science and technology to the cultivation and care of cinnamon…

At present, the cinnamon area of ​​Tran Yen District is over 20,000 ha, which is 25% of the cinnamon plantation area of ​​Yen Bai Province. Considered as one of the key crops in the forestry development of the district, cinnamon is cultivated in the communes of Dao Thinh, Tan Dong, Viet Thanh, Hoa Cuong, Y Can, Quy Mong, Kien Thanh, Hong Ca, Luong Thinh… Where the area of With concentrated cultivation towards organic currently reaching 9,000 ha, the area is more than 2,200 ha according to international organic standards. The district’s annual output of dried cinnamon bark ranges from 4,000 to 5,000 tons, with an income value of over VND 400 billion.

Control the planning, don’t develop cinnamon massively, spontaneously

In addition to the great contributions to the economy, society and environment, the value of cinnamon is quite high and stable in recent years, due to the increasing demand of the domestic market and the increasing export of cinnamon products, which leads to the cultivation of cinnamon in the district was also not quite massive according to plan.

The application of meticulous processes in planting, tending, harvesting, pre-processing, and preserving cinnamon has not been consistent in many places, resulting in compromised productivity, quality, and ecological environment. People who produce, harvest, pre-process and preserve cinnamon in the district do not yet understand or know what organic cinnamon production is or nationally and internationally certified organic production; What is the process of production, harvesting, pre-processing and canning to ensure certification standards?

For this reason, Tran Yen District has directed branches in the agricultural sector to coordinate with units, companies and communities to organize seminars, training and technical guidance for farmers on planting and caring for cinnamon products, while proposing solutions for organic cinnamon production, sustainable cinnamon production and a stable income for the people.

Ms. Trieu Thi Bich Lieu, Head of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tran Yen District, said: Tran Yen has been actively expanding the cinnamon-growing area by planting about 1,000 ha of new cinnamon and replacing cinnamon annually by 2025 cinnamon area specialized in organic cultivation is over 12,000 ha. Construction of cinnamon production areas to link production along the value chain between cinnamon growing households and cooperatives and businesses in processing and consuming products.

In addition, further focus on planning concentrated cinnamon production areas, specializing in organic farming; Strengthen the inspection of cinnamon product production, pre-processing and processing plants to ensure food safety and hygiene…

In the coming period, Tran Yen District will continue to create favorable conditions for companies and cooperatives to register to participate in the implementation of the policy to support the development of organic cinnamon linked to the value chain according to Resolution No. 69 – Provincial People’s Council to attend Yen Bai. Creation of favorable conditions for companies and cooperatives to invest sustainably in the production, processing and consumption of cinnamon products in the region, in particular in the production and processing of certified organic cinnamon products Opportunities to improve productivity, product quality and value; Cinnamon products are sold in high-end markets such as Japan, USA, EU…