Lao Cai has 7 types and 12 different bioclimates, this diversity has become the "cradle" that nurtures a rich flora, with about 850 species of medicinal plants. The highlands, with a temperate climate, average temperature from 15°C - 20°C, are the intersection of the flora of the Northeast and Northwest, ideal for growing medicinal herbs. The lowlands have temperatures suitable for other types of plants.
From that synthesis, a huge treasure trove of medicinal genes has been formed. These are rare endemic plants on the Hoang Lien Son range such as: prickly Coptis chinensis, seven-leaf flower and wild ginseng (wild ginseng). These are also medicinal plants with high economic value, which have become the brand of this land such as Gynostemma pentaphyllum, purple cardamom, angelica, betel, codonopsis pilosula, red polygonum multiflorum, artichoke, dodder seed, panax notoginseng, ligusticum wallichii, and atractylodes macrocephala.
Lao Cai owns the largest medicinal herb area in the country with nearly 7,600 hectares of various medicinal herbs and more than 140,000 hectares of cinnamon and hawthorn.
This potential not only opens up opportunities for output, but also creates diversity in species, the premise for Lao Cai to become a major regional and national center for medicinal herb production and processing.
However, the factor that turns potential into value does not lie in the land but in the people themselves. They are the “native scientists ” from all over the highland villages. They are the children of the mountains and forests, carrying within them a “valuable asset” that cannot be bought with money, which is the treasure trove of knowledge about medicinal plants that has been passed down from generation to generation.
Traditional medicinal bath recipes of Dao women in Sa Pa have become OCOP products welcomed by the market; precious medicinal recipes of Mong people living on the majestic terraced fields or of Tay people in precious lands.
All are the soul of indigenous medicinal culture, which is being cherished, preserved and turned into economic resources by today's generations. It is this combination of natural resources and indigenous knowledge that has laid the first bricks for Lao Cai's aspiration to reach national level.
The dream of “green gold” will be difficult to become a reality without pioneers who dare to think and dare to do. Panax Vietnam Investment Joint Stock Company is one of the pioneers.
In 2019, while many people were still skeptical, Mr. Nguyen Duc Thuan, Director of the Company, and his colleagues set foot on the slope of Mu Cang Chai commune to build a 6-hectare ginseng farm.
After more than 5 years of testing, Ngoc Linh ginseng and Lai Chau ginseng have flowered and borne fruit. PALEX Investment Joint Stock Company has initially commercialized the product; ginseng roots cost from 15 to 20 million VND/kg, and delicately packaged ginseng tea has been positively received by the market.
In that garden, there are the diligent hands of the highlanders. Currently, the farm creates regular jobs for 10 - 15 local workers.
“If planned properly, Mu Cang Chai commune can completely become a center for medicinal plants. Our goal is to improve the production process to reduce costs. How to make ginseng not only a luxury item, but also a mass product” - Mr. Nguyen Duc Thuan, Director of Panax Investment Joint Stock Company shared.
Along with pioneering enterprises, in the province, there are more and more cooperatives linking with people to grow and develop medicinal herbs. For example, Yen Bai Thanh Son Medicinal Herbs Production Cooperative (Dong Cuong commune) has linked with households to grow 10 hectares of Solanum procumbens and create 3-star OCOP products such as concentrated extract and Solanum procumbens powder, with an annual output of about 80 tons. Or Lung Lo Cooperative (Thuong Bang La commune) has linked with households and purchased all medicinal herbs, helping people feel secure in production. In Ban Bay village (Gia Phu commune), Manh Huong Medicinal Herbs Agricultural Cooperative is also a typical medicinal herb processing facility with 6 3-star OCOP medicinal herbs products, creating jobs for dozens of local workers.
Figures such as the average income from medicinal herbs in Lao Cai reaching 110 - 140 million VND/ha demonstrate the economic efficiency of medicinal herb production and processing.
However, the journey to find “green gold” is still full of ups and downs. The biggest difficulty is quality control, as rampant exploitation continues; the area linked to medicinal herb consumption only accounts for about 40% of output; preservation still has many limitations…
With advantages in geography, climate, indigenous knowledge and the determination of the government and functional units, Lao Cai has all the conditions to become the green medicinal herb center of the Northwest region and further the country.
The dream of “green gold” will only come true when the bottlenecks are resolved. That requires a strategic vision, a specific roadmap, from building medicinal plant growing areas according to GACP-WHO standards, to perfecting the value chain, creating sustainable links. Especially developing medicinal products associated with tourism, so that the story of “green gold” is not only in each bottle of balm, each package of tea, but also in each step of tourists...
The dream of "green gold" on the mountain slopes will no longer be a dream, but will gradually become a reality.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/viet-giac-mo-vang-xanh-tren-nhung-trien-nui-post878959.html
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