Rush to dig up cogon grass roots, earn half a million per day

At this time, dozens of workers from Dien Kim and Dien Hai communes (Dien Chau) went to the barren sandy land in Quynh Luu district to dig up cogon grass roots. Photo: Chu Dien

Cogon grass roots are being thoroughly exploited as medicinal herbs by the people of the coastal communes of Dien Kim and Dien Hai (Dien Chau). Every time they go far away to find new grass areas, the workers contact each other to form groups of about 10-15 people. Each day they only dig for one session, then bring the grass back to clean, dry and sell to traders for 15,000 VND/kg.

People often choose grass that grows on sandy soil to make it easier to dig and save labor. Photo: Chu Dien

Ms. Ho Thi Ngoc in Dien Kim commune said that this job is quite hard, however, thanks to traders who regularly buy at stable prices, people are excited. Because there is no need to invest capital, income depends entirely on the health of each worker. Those who dig a lot can pocket about 500,000 VND a day, and those who dig at least 150,000 VND.

Although she is over 60 years old this year, Mrs. Tran Thi Huong in Dien Hai commune still follows groups to search for “addresses” with cogon grass every day, mostly along the sea dike to find deserted sandy land. According to Mrs. Huong, sandy land is often easier to dig, and has more roots than loam, gravel or hilly land.

Thanks to this weed, each worker can earn from 150,000 to 450,000 VND per day. Photo: Chu Dien

Sometimes when goods are needed, many traders follow people to the fields to buy fresh grass roots on the spot, at a price of 11,000 - 12,000 VND/kg, thereby providing workers with a relatively good income.

According to Oriental medicine, cogon root has a sweet taste and cold properties, so it has the effect of clearing heat, quenching thirst, cooling the liver, and benefiting the kidneys. Photo: Chu Dien

According to Oriental medicine, cogon grass roots are sweet and cold, so they have the effect of clearing heat, quenching thirst, cooling the liver, and benefiting the kidneys. Cogon grass roots also treat conditions such as nosebleeds, hematuria, urinary retention, etc. With beneficial effects on human health and a stable output, local people will continue to maintain and develop this cogon grass digging profession.