“Goldmine” of valuable medicinal herbs
In Lai Chau, the National Center for Agricultural Extension just organized the Agriculture Extension Forum @ Agriculture with the theme “Solutions for Medicinal Herb Development Along the Ecotourism-Related Value Chain”.
According to the National Center for Agricultural Extension, statistics from scientists show that there are more than 5,117 species of higher vascular plants in forest ecosystems in Vietnam, and subspecies are used as medicine and health promotion.
Ethnic minorities in Xin Chai Village, Giang Ma Township (Tam Duong District, Lai Chau) are involved in ginseng cultivation to develop the family economy. Picture: tsp
The most valuable and rare medicinal plants with high economic value are widespread in natural forest ecosystems, such as: Lai Chau Ginseng, Vu Diep Ginseng, Wild Tam That, Cypress, Red Pine, etc. Bittergold, Hoang Lien Oro, Hoang Lien Dorn, Thanh Thien Anemone , orchids…
Most of the precious and valuable herb species live under the forest canopy, especially under the jungle canopy. The country currently has more than 10.1 million hectares of natural forests. This is an advantage, great potential and feasibility for the development of medicinal herbs under the forest canopy.
However, medicinal herbs in general and noble herbs in particular cannot grow in every tree canopy. In particular, the problem of medicinal herb development under the canopy of natural forests, including primary and secondary forests, is still limited by regulatory mechanisms and policies that need to be eliminated.
Currently, only a pilot project of renting forest environment services for growing Ngoc Linh ginseng in Quang Nam has been conducted, but this issue is still controversial with some saying that the state leases forest environments only to develop eco-tourism services and the forest and forests must not affect land; Some other views assume that the lease of the forest environment must be on forest land for the cultivation of medicinal herbs.
On October 30, 2013, the Prime Minister issued Resolution 1976 approving the Master Plan for the Development of Medicinal Herbs of Vietnam to 2020 and the Orientation to 2030, according to which medicinal herbs were developed in all eight regions. Ecological environment for the cultivation of 54 species of medicinal herbs covering an area of 28,000 ha, thereby supplying about 110,000 tons of all kinds of medicinal herbs, and at the same time selecting and rationally using 24 kinds of natural medicinal herbs, providing a sufficient source of medicines and raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry, traditional medicine, other fields and export.
Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Center for Agricultural Extension, spoke at the forum on medicinal herb development solutions along the ecotourism-related value chain. Picture: tsp
Most recently, on June 1, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Resolution No. 611 approving the program “Development of Vietnamese Ginseng by 2030, Aiming at 2045”. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is currently preparing an implementation plan. If the decision is adopted, it will be an opportunity not only for the development of ginseng under the Vietnamese brand, but also for the development of other medicinal plants under the forest canopy.
Le Quoc Thanh, director of the National Center for Agricultural Extension, said he would continue research and propose to relevant ministries and sectors to develop specific policies and mechanisms for medical agriculture development models so as to gradually promote potential and competitive advantages of medicinal herbs in Vietnam while harnessing the potential and benefits of forest ecosystem services in each location.
On the way to the goal of 10,000 hectares of Lai Chau Ginseng
Lai Chau is a mountainous province in the northwest where over 70% of the population leads a life in the forest.
The forests of Lai Chau are large and have high biodiversity, with the area of rich and medium-sized forests accounting for about 13%, forests with absolute altitudes of 900-1,400 m about 29%, forests with absolute altitudes of 1,400 m to over 3,100 m about 32%, suitable for the development of many types of medicinal plants, non-timber forest products under the forest canopy.
In addition, the main soil type among the forests in Lai Chau Province is the red-yellow soil group and the red-yellow humus group in the mountains, with many suitable properties, bringing great potential for the development of medicinal plants. precious, with high economic value such as Lai Chau ginseng, seven leaves and one flower, orchids…; Develop orchids under the forest canopy and develop and expand the area of old tea.
At present, a number of units and companies have invested in the development of Lai Chau ginseng. Picture: Trung Quan.
With this potential and benefits, Lai Chau has actively attracted and encouraged businesses, cooperatives, communities, households and individuals to participate in economic development beneath the forest canopy.
Mr Nguyen Trong Lich, deputy director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Rural Development of Lai Chau Province, said that the province has approved a project to develop a range of medicinal plants in 2020-2025 with a vision of 2030.
The program envisages focusing on the development of raw material cultivation towards concentrated raw material production, linking the production and consumption of products, and sets the goal of developing new plantings of 3 hectares of Lai Chau ginseng by 2025, 5 ha, to support seven leaves and one flower, 2 ha of cyclamen and 250 ha of other medicinal species such as Ha Thu O Red, Iso Ginseng, Dong Quai, Cross Frame, Artichoke…
The goal of the project is to plant 6 hectares of Lai Chau ginseng, 10 hectares of seven leaves and one flower, 4 hectares of cypress orchids, and more than 600 hectares of other medicinal species such as Ha Thu O Red, Iso Ginseng, Dong Quai, Cross Frame, artichoke …
“For Lai Chau ginseng in particular, the province has found that it is an endemic plant with great potential and strong development towards concentrated raw material production. The Lai Chau Provincial People’s Committee has directed the special agency to research, verify and map the suitable area for planting Lai Chau ginseng in the province, and advise the provincial people’s committee, content for Lai Province’s participation Propose Chau at the program . Develop Vietnamese ginseng and develop a plan for the development of Lai Chau ginseng, with a development scale of 3,000 ha by 2030 and new development of 7,000 ha by 2045, making the total area of Lai Chau ginseng in the province 10,000 ha. Nguyen Trong Lich stressed.
People in Lai Chau introduce tourists to locally grown ginseng products and promote them on social media. Picture: tsp
With a view to attracting investment, Lai Chau plans to build a medicinal plant production plant and encourages investment in the construction of 7 medicinal plant production plants, 5 of which are medicinal. It is Lai Chau ginseng seedlings, 2 high-tech plants seed production centers.
Gain investment to build a medicine processing plant and two factories for processing Lai Chau ginseng products. Development of a plant system for the pre-processing and preservation of medicinal products in concentrated raw material areas…
Great potential to combine medicinal herbs with tourism
With the characteristics of high mountain topography, the characteristics of natural, cultural and social conditions, and a system of historical and cultural relics and scenic spots, Lai Chau is recognized as one of six important areas of regional and national tourist attractions. The focus is on Lao Cai-Lai Chau tourism, which is linked to the Lao Cai, Sa Pa, Fansipan border gates and Hoang Lien National Park, and belongs to the “Through the Northwest” inter-regional tourism route.
Mr. Hoang Quoc Viet from PU Lai Chau Tourism and Trade Co., Ltd. said that the current tourism trend is small group tourism; Selection of activities for recovery, health care, tourism to experience agriculture – medicinal herbs; An exciting journey close to the unspoilt nature, enjoy the original culture and cuisine… and Lai Chau has great potential and power to offer visitors these things.
Visitors can relax with a herbal bath, a hot mineral bath combined with visits and experiences in herbal cultivation areas, local exploration, health care with typical folk remedies and delicious food, herbal drinks, thus restoring health, losing weight and curing “time diseases” such as stress, blood lipids, blood pressure, diabetes…
The proportion of primary forest is still large and has high biodiversity, which is a very favorable condition for Lai Chau to develop medicinal herbs related to tourism. Picture: tsp.
A number of rural tourism models have been launched in Lai Chau, working with local communities to create new values and experiences for visitors.
Accordingly, visitors can experience a day with the Mong people making cardamom; Dao people produce algae and tend gardens with valuable medicinal herbs. Together with Thai people, they work rice, go to the fields in the morning, go to the fields for lunch with rice balls, pour water and come home comfortably with a meal by the fire, enjoy the singing, the khen and much more the indigenous dances.. .
For adventurous tourists, it is possible to climb the peaks of Lai Chau, enjoy old tea in its own way (roasted tea, teapot), go through the bamboo forest to pick bamboo shoots …
Tourism in the Lai Chau ginseng area is aimed at well-paying customers. Visitors can experience ginseng gardens, see how valuable medicinal herbs are cultivated and cultivated, collect ginseng plants directly and process them with locals. with ginseng chicken, ginseng soaked in honey, ginseng tea…
“These guests do not save money for the health of themselves and their families, they only need to experience rich emotions and quality … Therefore, health tourism and agricultural and herbal experiences contribute to the diversification of products, products and services, and bring rich experience values.” to the customers while creating development opportunities for businesses and ethnic minorities as they participate in this tourism service supply chain,” emphasized Mr. Hoang Quoc Viet.