'Double benefits' of the mangosteen growing area in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - At this time, in Thinh Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district (Nghe An), people are entering the harvest season; people are excited because this crop has high productivity and selling price.

Going along Khua road through the mountainous commune of Thinh Thanh, among the green primeval forests as far as the eye can see is a forest of fruit-laden star apple trees in harvest season.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Thanh in Dong Thinh hamlet said: His family has nearly 2 hectares of forest hill land planned to grow cassia. This is the fourth harvest, this year's yield reached over 5 tons/ha, traders come to collect right in the forest at a price of 14.7 million VND/ton. Compared to paper raw materials such as acacia, cajuput, cajuput trees have high economic efficiency.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Thanh's family in Dong Thinh hamlet, Thinh Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) harvested 10 tons of fresh jujube seeds this year, earning 147 million VND. Photo: Thai Duong

So is a plant of the tea family, has a long growing period, can adapt to many terrain and climate conditions, and is not affected by pests. The main product of this plant is to take seeds to press oil for food, make soap, make medicine to treat skin diseases and use as fertilizer, pesticide...

The So tree has been planted in Thinh Thanh commune since 2007, with an area of ​​50 hectares. According to the people, planting So requires little investment, only care is needed when the tree is still small and has not closed its canopy. After 6 years of planting, the tree begins to yield a harvest, once a year from September to November.

This year, the custard apple tree in Thinh Thanh has an average yield of 5 tons/ha, if well cared for it can reach 6 - 7 tons/ha; achieving a total yield of 250 tons of fresh custard apple fruit and stable output; after deducting costs, each hectare brings in an income of 60 - 70 million VND.

Solanum seeds are used to press food oil, make soap, make medicine to treat skin diseases and used as fertilizer, pesticide... Photo: Hong Hanh

According to Mr. Tran Dinh Hanh, the village chief of Dong Thinh village, the output market for cassia seeds has been relatively stable over the past four years. Last year, the price of cassia seeds was 14,000 VND/kg, this year it has increased from 14.7 - 15,000 VND/kg; households participating in growing cassia seeds all have a good income.

In addition to its high economic value, the tree is also green all year round, its roots cling deep into the ground, it is not affected by natural disasters, prevents erosion due to rain and floods, and contributes to protecting the ecological environment and upstream forests.

In Yen Thanh district, Thinh Thanh commune is the only locality that has planted the So tree in large numbers in mountainous areas.

The mangrove forests in Thinh Thanh commune (Yen Thanh - Nghe An). Photo: Thai Duong

Mr. Tran Dinh Nga - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thinh Thanh Commune said: As a commune with a large forest area, with 1,400 hectares, the locality has recently participated in the REDD+ Project, to provide a source of clean emissions in the community. Along with developing forest capital, the commune is expanding the area of ​​​​so trees, currently people are selecting quality seeds for breeding, preparing for the 2018 spring forest planting plan.

With the advantage of being a semi-mountainous plain district, Yen Thanh has more than 21,000 hectares of forest land. In recent years, people have mainly planted acacia and cajuput trees to make paper materials. These trees are easily broken during whirlwinds and storms; on the other hand, when harvesting, they have to be exploited en masse, so the forest cover is not guaranteed.

People in Thinh Thanh commune wish to expand the area of ​​​​sapong cultivation, both to bring economic efficiency and to protect the upstream forest area. Photo: Hong Hanh

In order to exploit the potential and strengths of the tree, the district is developing a plan and creating conditions to encourage people to expand the area of ​​planting the tree in places where it has not been effective, especially in protective forests in upstream dams.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Duong - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen Thanh district: Implementing the project of developing forest capital for the period 2017 - 2035, the district is conducting a survey, planning and arranging forestry crops, in which priority is given to areas with suitable soil conditions, planting So trees. This is a direction for converting production for people in semi-mountainous areas, contributing to the conservation of So tree genetic resources, ensuring coverage in upstream protective forest areas; at the same time, increasing income for households.

Thai Duong - Hong Hanh