The effectiveness of medicinal plant cultivation in Con Cuong.
(Baonghean.vn) - Converting inefficient cassava and sugarcane farming land to high-economic-value medicinal plant cultivation, with product consumption linkages to businesses... is a successful model that needs to be replicated in Chau Khe border commune (Con Cuong).
On an area of 420 m²2Previously, Mr. Nguyen The Dung's family lived in village 2/9.Chau Khe commune(Con Cuong) grows some crops like cassava and sugarcane, but they are not suitable for the area, so the economic efficiency is not high.
In early 2020, with support for model building from the new rural development program of Con Cuong district and Pu Mat Medicinal Herbs Company, Mr. Dung's family decided to convert the entire area of land to cultivate medicinal herbs.Solanum torvum.
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| Solanum torvum grown in Chau Khe commune thrives in the local soil conditions, resulting in rapid growth. Photo: Ba Hau |
By implementing this model, in addition to receiving support in fertilizers and seedlings from the district, he also received assistance from the company.Medicinal herbsPù Mát provides technical support for planting and caring for the plants. To ensure a regular water supply for the plants, Mr. Pù Mát's family, as well as other households participating in the model, are supported in drilling wells right at the model site. Fertilizers for the plants are mainly from the family's own manure or collected from other households in the commune.
Six months after planting, the Solanum torvum plants adapted well to the local soil and climate, resulting in a successful model that yielded higher economic returns compared to the family's previous crops.
Mr. Nguyen The Dung said: “We are very excited to be selected by the commune as a pilot model for growing Solanum torvum and to receive financial support from the district to implement the model. With the same land area, last year my family only earned a little over 1 million VND from cassava. Now, switching to growing Solanum torvum has brought in many times more profit (the last harvest yielded nearly 9 million VND). Thanks to this, my family's life is much better than before. In the future, we hope to continue receiving support from the local authorities and businesses to expand this model.”
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| Solanum torvum is harvested after 4 months of cultivation. Photo: Bá Hậu |
Like Mr. Dung's family, the family of Mr. Phan Dinh Thuan - Head of Hamlet 2/9, Chau Khe Commune - also received support to plant 400 m².2Solanum torvum is grown on land where cassava and sugarcane cultivation is less productive. Thanks to the correct implementation of technical procedures, the model has initially yielded quite high results.
Mr. Thuan shared: “Compared to other crops we planted before, growing Solanum torvum is much more advantageous, yielding four times the income of sugarcane (the first harvest brought in 8 million VND, whereas cassava, as we did before, only brought in 2 million VND). Initially, the family didn't have to invest any capital, only labor for planting and caring for the plants, and the product is guaranteed to be purchased by the company at a stable price. Therefore, in the future, we will convert more land to growing Solanum torvum to increase income and improve our lives.”
According to Mr. Thuan, after planting a trial on 1 hectare and seeing the effectiveness after the first harvest, the farmers have now registered to expand planting by another 2 hectares in the near future.
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| The Solanum torvum plant is watered using an automatic system; people in Chau Khe commune are excited to harvest the first crop of Solanum torvum, which yielded a high harvest. Photo: Ba Hau |
In line with the policy of crop diversification, in 2020, Chau Khe commune was selected by Con Cuong district as a pilot site for a model of cultivating the medicinal plant Solanum torvum (cà gai leo), covering a total area of 1 hectare for 25 households in village 2/9. To implement the model, in addition to providing households with materials, fertilizers, and seedlings, participating households also received technical support on planting and caring for Solanum torvum.
Specifically, the project introduced a system for connecting farmers with post-harvest product consumption. Initial results show that the Solanum torvum plant in Chau Khe commune is very suitable for the local climate and soil. Through implementation, the Solanum torvum cultivation model has shown good growth and development, minimal pest and disease damage, and a successful first harvest. After the first harvest, subsequent harvests can be done after 4 months. Each year, Solanum torvum yields two harvests. On average, each plot of land (approximately 2,000 square meters) yields about 2 tons of fresh produce (equivalent to 600 kg of dried produce). With an average selling price of 9,000 VND/kg of fresh produce, each plot of land generates an income of 13-16 million VND per year after deducting costs.
“The model of growing Solanum torvum in the commune is initially very promising. Compared to previous cassava and sugarcane crops, the economic efficiency of Solanum torvum is many times higher, because cassava cultivation has gradually become less efficient due to soil degradation. Currently, many households wish to participate in this model, so the commune continues to encourage crop conversion, prioritizing Solanum torvum. Focus should be placed on converting areas of old, less efficient cassava crops. Based on the commune's joint ventures and partnerships with businesses, the Solanum torvum product has a stable market, so people are confident in expanding the model.”
