The Quy cinnamon tree needs to be protected under geographical indication.
(Baonghean.vn) - "Quỳ cinnamon is the best, Thanh cinnamon is second best," for thousands of years, along with ivory, rhinoceros horns, pearls, agarwood, etc., Quỳ cinnamon has been a product offered as tribute and exported to China and many other countries. The issue of protecting geographical indications for this specialty needs attention.
Geographical indications and the role of protecting geographical indications for agricultural products.
The World Trade Organization has adopted the Agreement relating to Intellectual Property, which stipulates the following regarding geographical indications: “Geographical indications are defined as an indication that identifies a product as originating from the territory of a Member State or from a geographical region or area within that State, whose quality, reputation, or other characteristics are primarily derived from this geographical origin.”
The Vietnamese Intellectual Property Law of 2022 also clearly states: "Geographical indication is a sign used to indicate the geographical origin of a product from a specific area, locality, territory or country." Accordingly, a geographical indication is understood as a sign used to indicate where a product originates from. For example: Phu Quoc fish sauce, Vinh oranges, Ky Son ginger, Phuc Trach pomelo, etc.
Geographical indications are an effective tool in trade promotion, especially for export businesses. They add value, helping products penetrate markets and develop quickly and easily thanks to the quality and reputation of products bearing geographical indications. Furthermore, due to the unique characteristics of products bearing geographical indications, they are better recognized in the market. This makes implementing marketing strategies or trade promotion activities much easier and more effective.
Besides being a tool for regional economic development and community-based economy (as it is often collectively owned), geographical indications also help protect and preserve heritage, traditional indigenous knowledge, and support local production, business, and product exports. For Quy cinnamon, a specialty of Nghe An province, the issue of protecting geographical indications needs attention. Recognizing this, in the 1990s, a cinnamon planting movement was launched quite vigorously in Quy Chau and Que Phong districts, reaching an area of nearly 1,000 hectares.
However, due to poor seed preparation and limited awareness, many cinnamon varieties were imported for mass planting at that time, while the native Quy cinnamon variety was not given enough attention and propagation to serve production for new plantings. Partly due to low market prices during harvest time, and partly due to inconsistent quality (due to the variety of seeds), the output price was low, resulting in low profitability. Therefore, after harvesting, farmers rarely replanted cinnamon. Cinnamon trees were forgotten for a long time, giving way to acacia trees.
Meanwhile, cinnamon trees are being maintained and developed in the Northwest provinces, especially Yen Bai province. Persisting with this native tree, Yen Bai has established and protected the geographical indication for Van Yen cinnamon and has now developed a cinnamon growing area of approximately 100,000 hectares. This large area is an advantage in attracting businesses to invest in purchasing and processing cinnamon products. To date, Yen Bai province has 17 businesses investing in processing cinnamon products and exporting them to many countries around the world. Nothing from the cinnamon tree is wasted; leaves, branches, bark, and wood are all collected. From this, products such as bark chips, wood planks, timber, wood chips, pellets, cinnamon essential oil, cinnamon sticks, cinnamon flutes, and cinnamon handicrafts are produced.
According to the director of the cinnamon processing cooperative in Van Yen district, Yen Bai province, thanks to processing, the revenue from 1 hectare of cinnamon over a 10-15 year cycle can reach 600-800 million VND.
For the sustainable development of Quy cinnamon
Recognizing the significance of native trees, since 2015, the Department of Science and Technology has advised the Provincial People's Committee to include the Quy cinnamon tree in the intellectual property program, the program for conservation, exploitation and development of the gene pool, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to include cinnamon in the policy supporting forestry development. Based on that, in 2016, the Department of Science and Technology, in coordination with the Management Board of the Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, conducted a survey of the current status of cinnamon varieties in the area to select superior trees, mark them, and protect them for propagation of the native Quy cinnamon tree.
Analysis and comparison have shown that the native Quỳ cinnamon tree has superior quality, faster growth, and fewer pests and diseases compared to other varieties planted in the Phủ Quỳ area at the same time. In particular, the Pù Hoạt Nature Reserve Management Board has established a nursery to supply seedlings to the local people.
Therefore, after a long period of neglect, the Quy cinnamon tree has begun to recover, with its current cultivation area being approximately 600 hectares (mainly concentrated in Que Phong district). With its superior qualities and existing cultivation area, the Quy cinnamon tree now has all the necessary conditions to establish and protect its geographical indication.
To sustainably develop the Quy cinnamon tree, restore its former reputation, create stable livelihoods, and contribute to poverty reduction, the following issues need to be addressed:The first,Implement the cinnamon growing area plan in the Phu Quy region, prioritizing the districts of Que Phong, Quy Chau, and Quy Hop (while also experimenting in new areas such as Tan Ky and Nghia Dan) where the soil and climate are suitable for a sufficiently large area to attract businesses to invest in processing and export. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will coordinate with the People's Committees of the districts to form working groups to implement the plan in key districts. Announce the plan and commitments to development to attract businesses to invest in processing facilities, and cooperate with businesses to develop raw material areas and seed production facilities.
The Department of Science and Technology, in coordination with the districts in the cinnamon planting planning area, advises the Provincial People's Committee on the development, registration, protection, exploitation, and development of the geographical indication for Quy cinnamon and products derived from Quy cinnamon. Based on the established native cinnamon gene pool, support and encouragement will be provided for the establishment of nurseries to supply seedlings to meet demand at reasonable prices, avoiding the situation of importing cinnamon seedlings from other provinces at lower prices, which could negatively impact Quy cinnamon.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has assigned the Pu Hoat Nature Reserve Management Board to establish a mother tree garden to supply seeds to seed production facilities, and to coordinate with districts to inspect and control seed quality and origin.
Monday,Promote awareness among officials at all levels, businesses, and the public about the significance and advantages of developing native cinnamon trees to protect the reputation of Quy cinnamon products. Guide the people on the "dense planting and thinning" cultivation process to ensure strict adherence. Especially encourage access to organic farming methods to achieve quality certification and enter the high-priced market.
Tuesday,Forming small-scale cooperatives for planting and processing cinnamon to support market access, cooperating in cultivation to obtain FSC sustainable forest certification, proposing the granting of a product code for Quy cinnamon, and aiming towards organic cinnamon cultivation areas. With the existing policy supporting the development of native trees, it is necessary to prioritize allocating sufficient resources to cinnamon cultivation, avoiding fragmentation and small allocations to each entity. In addition, there needs to be guidance from districts and relevant sectors to prioritize funding from national target programs to focus on supporting development.
In addition, it is important to improve security measures to prevent the theft of cinnamon bark, which has caused insecurity among the people, as seen in several incidents in recent years. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, the once-famous Quy cinnamon will be developed with a new look, diverse and innovative products, and reach markets around the world.
