Community development of medicinal plants under natural forest canopy in Xiangyang - Part 5: 4-party cooperation in developing green medicinal plants

Promoting capital for the National Target Program

In the days of October and November 2024, Mr. Mong Van Vien - Vice Chairman of Yen Hoa Commune People's Committee, Tuong Duong District said that the locality is urgently completing procedures and documents to disburse capital sources from the National Target Program.

Among the Projects and Sub-projects under the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, there is a sub-project on growing medicinal herbs under the forest canopy in Cooc and Yen Tan villages.

Speaking more clearly about these two models, Mr. Vien said that the first model of promoting the advantages of growing medicinal plants under the forest canopy originated from the Project to Support Communities in Buffer Zone Communes to Develop Medicinal Plants Under the Forest Canopy to Increase Income and Conserve Biodiversity in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.

This project supports all seedlings as well as costs to build models and medicinal herb nurseries in Yen Hoa commune from 2022. In particular, the model of planting purple velvet antler and purple ba kich plants in Yen Tan, Dinh Yen, and Yen Hop villages.

After the time the people benefited from the Project, it was shown that the model of growing medicinal herbs under the forest canopy was very suitable and highly effective. The local government continued to replicate this model with funding from the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas.

Specifically, Sub-project 2 under Project 3 on Sustainable Agricultural and Forestry Production Development promotes the potential and strengths of regions to produce goods according to the value chain.

In 2023, this capital will be invested in supporting the precious medicinal herb growing area with a total cost of more than 660 million VND, of which the state budget is more than 420 million VND, and the people's counterpart capital is nearly 240 million VND to implement the model in Cooc village. To date, 100% of the disbursement has been achieved. The medicinal herb garden under the forest canopy in Cooc village is currently harvesting purple velvet leaf products.

In order to increase income and preserve biodiversity in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve in Nga My commune, the local government has also continued to expand medicinal herb gardens under the forest canopy using funds from the National Target Program. Specifically, investing in supporting a nursery garden and providing seeds and fertilizers for the precious medicinal herb growing area in the model "Nursery garden for growing and propagating Ba Kich plants" in Bay village with a budget of more than 310 million VND.

Promoting the "4 houses" connection

Activities of the Project to Support Communities in Buffer Zones to Develop Medicinal Plants Under Forest Canopy to Increase Income and Conserve Biodiversity in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve in Nga My and Yen Hoa Communes (Tuong Duong) have "inspired" the locality to effectively apply public investment sources of National Target Programs.

Thereby, helping people and authorities at all levels raise awareness, expand connections and cooperation in growing medicinal herbs under forest canopy, exploiting medicinal resources in a sustainable manner and linking "4 houses". That is the cooperation and support of the State, Farmers, Enterprises and Scientists.

In August 2024, within the framework of the Project's activities, the "houses" organized a 4-party workshop on cooperation in developing green medicinal herbs in Western Nghe An.

The workshop was attended by representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghe An, the Provincial Ethnic Minorities Committee, cooperating and investing enterprises, and officials from the three districts of Que Phong, Ky Son, and Tuong Duong. These are three localities with great potential for growing medicinal herbs under the forest canopy. However, in order to exploit effectively, sustainably, and preserve genetic resources, it is necessary to have scientific, appropriate, and effective measures and directions.

The workshop had 10 comments and suggestions on ensuring the connection of 4 houses to develop medicinal herbs under the forest canopy. Among them, the most suggested ideas were to help people change their awareness of growing medicinal herbs under the forest canopy, considering it a sustainable livelihood and doing it together.

Next is the issue of product consumption, processing solutions, and enhancing the value of products from medicinal herbs grown under the forest canopy. After the effective "4-house" connection workshop, businesses were connected to conduct field surveys in Nghe An to promote the development of their medicinal herb areas, the first being the Central Southeast Pharmaceutical Company.

In the sponsorship activities of Supporting the community of buffer zone communes to develop medicinal plants under forest canopy to increase income and conserve biodiversity in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, participants and beneficiaries also had the opportunity to visit and learn about medicinal plant development in Hanoi and Ba Vi.

After the visit, the authorities and people of Tuong Duong district quickly and effectively implemented investment support from the Project to Support Communities in Buffer Zone Communes to Develop Medicinal Plants Under Forest Canopy to Increase Income and Conserve Biodiversity in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.