Dang Sam from Nghe An costs half a million dong per kilogram.
(Baonghean.vn) - Que Phong district (Nghe An province) has many rare and valuable medicinal plants, especially Codonopsis pilosula, which is currently sold at 500,000 VND/kg of fresh plant.
Codonopsis pilosula, along with other plants such as the yellow-flowered tea plant, the Mú Từn plant, and the Bon Bo plant, has long been known as a rare and valuable medicinal herb, a specialty of the mountainous district of Quế Phong. Codonopsis pilosula grows abundantly in the wild in Thông Thụ commune. Previously, due to traders buying Codonopsis pilosula at high prices, ranging from 400,000 to 500,000 VND per kilogram of fresh plant, people rushed into the forest to exploit it, leading to the risk of destruction and depletion.
In response to this situation, Que Phong district has developed a project titled "Conservation and Development of High-Economic Value Medicinal Plants in the Period 2016-2020". Initially, priority is given to developing Codonopsis pilosula, Golden Flower Tea, and Bon Bo (a type of medicinal plant) to quickly become marketable commodities in the restructuring of crop production, creating jobs, increasing income for the people, and contributing to poverty reduction.
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| Mr. Quang Huy's family in Ang village is one of the first households in the commune to plant Codonopsis pilosula. Photo: Ngoc Tang |
To date, in addition to cultivating and protecting the existing Codonopsis pilosula plants in nature, Thong Thu commune has also implemented the planting of 1 hectare in Ang village.
Mr. Quang Huy from Ang village, Thong Thu commune, said that since relocating to this area in 2012, his family has been cultivating and planting a small number of seedlings themselves. Initially, they found it to be an easy-to-grow and easy-to-care-for plant with high economic efficiency. In 2016, when the district expanded the area for medicinal plants and implemented incentive and support mechanisms, he boldly invested in planting 1,300 new Codonopsis pilosula plants; after one year of planting, each plant weighed approximately 0.2 kg.
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| Codonopsis pilosula (source: internet) |
The plant known as Codonopsis javanica is most concentrated in the northern mountainous provinces (including Lai Chau, Son La, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, and Lang Son). In Nghe An province, it is only found in Thong Thu commune, Que Phong district. Codonopsis pilosula is a herbaceous, climbing plant with twining stems 2-3 meters long and branching extensively. Its leaves are opposite, heart-shaped, and its flowers grow singly in the leaf axils. The fruit is spherical with 5 edges, and the tuber has a diameter of 1.5-2 cm. For a long time, local people have known to use Codonopsis pilosula tubers as a valuable medicine to improve health and treat ailments such as weak spleen and stomach, weak lungs, poor digestion, and general weakness. |
Currently, in Thong Thu commune, a cooperative specializing in cultivating Codonopsis pilosula seedlings has been established with 6 participating households to supply the entire district. To date, 12,000 seedlings have been cultivated, and it is expected that another 12,000 will be cultivated by June of this year. During the cultivation process, the households receive support from the district and commune in terms of shelters, tarpaulins, seedlings, and guidance from agricultural extension officers on proper cultivation, planting, and care techniques.
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| Currently, in Thong Thu commune (Que Phong district), a cooperative specializing in cultivating Codonopsis pilosula seedlings has been formed with 6 participating households, aiming to supply the entire district. (Photo: Ngoc Tang) |
Ms. Luong Thi Hong, Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Thong Thu commune, said: "Currently, six households have registered to implement the model of cultivating Codonopsis pilosula seedlings. After evaluation and obtaining concrete results, the commune will continue to expand the model to other households that wish to grow this medicinal plant."
According to the plan, from now until 2020, Que Phong district will continue to preserve and plant an additional 240 hectares of Codonopsis pilosula, golden flower tea, and bon bo plants; in particular, Thong Thu commune, which has a unique climate and soil suitable for these plants, will plant 4 hectares of Codonopsis pilosula.
Currently, Codonopsis pilosula (Dang Sam) is sold at a price of 400,000 - 500,000 VND per kilogram of fresh plant.
Ngoc Tang
