Effectiveness of medicinal plant cultivation in Con Cuong

On an area of ​​420 m², formerly Mr. Nguyen The Dung's family lived in village 2/9,Chau Khe commune(Con Cuong) grows some crops such as cassava and sugarcane but they are not suitable so the economic efficiency is not high.

In early 2020, with support for model building from the new rural program of Con Cuong district and Pu Mat Medicinal Materials Company, Mr. Dung's family decided to convert the entire land area above to growSolanum procumbens.

Solanum procumbens grown in Chau Khe commune is suitable for the soil quality so it grows quickly. Photo: Ba Hau

Implementing this model, in addition to being supported with fertilizers and seedlings, the district also received support from the Company.Medicinal herbsPu Mat supports planting and care techniques. To ensure a regular water source for the trees, his family as well as households participating in the model are supported to drill wells right at the model. Fertilizer for the trees is mainly used from the family's manure or manure collected from households in the commune.

After 6 months from the date of planting, the Solanum procumbens plant is suitable for the local soil and climate, so this model develops well, bringing higher economic efficiency than the previous crops of his family.

Mr. Nguyen The Dung said: “We are very excited because the commune chose us to be the pilot model for growing Solanum procumbens and the district supported us with funding to implement the model. With the same area of ​​land, last year my family only earned over 1 million VND from cassava. Now switching to growing Solanum procumbens brings in many times more profit (the last crop yielded nearly 9 million VND). Thanks to that, my family's life is much better than before. In the coming time, we hope to continue to receive support from the locality and businesses to expand this model.”

Solanum procumbens can be harvested after 4 months of planting. Photo: Ba Hau

Like Mr. Dung's family, Mr. Phan Dinh Thuan's family - Head of village 2/9, Chau Khe commune was supported to plant 400 m²Solanum procumbens on land used for growing cassava and sugarcane is ineffective. Thanks to the correct implementation of technical procedures, the model initially brought quite high efficiency.

Mr. Thuan shared: “Compared to other plants before, growing Solanum procumbens is much more favorable, the income is 4 times higher than growing sugarcane (the first harvest is 8 million VND, if growing cassava as before, it is only 2 million VND). Initially, the family does not have to invest capital but only put effort into planting and caring, the product is committed to be purchased by the enterprise at a stable price. Therefore, in the coming time, we will convert some more areas to grow Solanum procumbens to increase income and improve life.”

According to Mr. Thuan, after planting a pilot 1 hectare, seeing the effectiveness after the first harvest, people have now registered to expand planting another 2 hectares in the near future.

Solanum procumbens is watered by an automatic system; Chau Khe commune residents are excited to harvest the first high-yielding Solanum procumbens crop. Photo: Ba Hau

Implementing the policy of converting crops, in 2020, Chau Khe commune was chosen by Con Cuong district as a pilot to build a model of growing medicinal plants of Solanum procumbens with a total area of ​​1 hectare for 25 households in village 2/9 to participate. To implement the model, in addition to supporting households with materials, fertilizers, and seedlings, participating households are also supported with techniques for planting and caring for Solanum procumbens.

In particular, introducing the connection to consume products after harvest. Initial results show that Solanum procumbens in Chau Khe commune is very suitable for the climate and soil here. Through implementation, the Solanum procumbens growing model grows and develops well, is less susceptible to pests and diseases and gives the first harvest. From the first harvest, after 4 months, the next harvest continues. Each year, Solanum procumbens is harvested twice. On average, each sao yields about 2 tons of fresh (equivalent to 600 kg of dry). With an average selling price of 9,000 VND/kg of fresh, it is calculated that each sao of harvest after deducting costs brings in an income of 13-16 million VND/year.

“The model of growing Solanum procumbens in the commune is initially very promising. Compared to previous cassava and sugarcane crops, the economic efficiency of Solanum procumbens is many times higher, because long-term cassava cultivation has gradually become less effective due to poor soil. Currently, many households wish to participate in this model, so the commune continues to promote crop conversion, in which Solanum procumbens is given priority. It is necessary to focus on converting long-term, ineffective cassava areas. On the basis of the commune's joint ventures and partnerships with businesses, the output of Solanum procumbens products is stable, so people are also confident in replicating the model.”

Ms. Vi Thi Kham - Vice Chairman of Chau Khe Commune People's Committee (Con Cuong)