Double benefits from 'ash tree'

(Baonghean.vn) - It seems that the ash tree (palm) - 'a time of hunger and fullness' has lost its usefulness in the new era, but in Con Cuong (Nghe An), this tree still provides double income.

Mr. Lo Huynh Lan, Khe Ran village, is harvesting palm fruits (commonly called ash fruits in Nghe An). Photo: Ba Hau

Ash (palm) is planted by people around fences and on hillsides. In addition to helping people earn income from selling leaves, people in the mountainous area of ​​Con Cuong now have an additional source of income when the fruit ripens.

Mr. Lo Huynh Lan's family in Khe Ran village has a forest land area allocated by the state of 1.5 hectares. In addition to planting perennial trees, he has intercropped 150 palm trees.

Up to now, the area of ​​palm trees that have produced fruit is 100. Mr. Lan said that this year the palm crop is good, each tree has an average of 20-30kg of fruit. At this time, some palm trees have ripened, because there are few early-season palms, so the price is also good, each kg costs 20,000 VND, an increase of 5,000 - 10,000 VND compared to mid-season.

Early season palm fruits cost 20,000 VND/kg. Photo: Chu Hanh - Ba Hau

Video Processing ash fruit (palm) to make dishes - NS

Ms. Ha Thi Thu's family also lives in Khe Ran village. On the forest land area allocated by the State, in addition to growing raw materials such as acacia and bamboo, her family also grows 2 hectares of palm trees.

Ms. Thu said that the time from planting to harvesting the leaves of a palm tree is about 1 year and does not require much investment and care. Taking advantage of the free time, she and her husband go to the forest to cut palm leaves, then weave them into tran.hEach brush painting is purchased on the spot by a small trader for 1,000 VND.

Every 2-3 days, the couple makes 600-700 palm paintings, which gives them a stable income of 600,000-700,000 VND. Although they harvest leaves every year, it does not affect the fruit production.

This year, the palm crop was good, so the growers had a good income. Some families earned over 20 million VND from palms. This is a double benefit for palm growers.

Currently, palm trees in Con Cuong district are grown in many communes: Bong Khe, Chau Khe, Don Phuc... small households grow 0.5 ha, large households grow over 2 ha of palm trees.

People make palm-leaf paintings and import them to some purchasing facilities. Photo: Chu Hanh - Ba Hau

Khe Ran village, Bong Khe commune, located on the left bank of Lam river, has 100% Thai ethnic people. In addition to growing key crops such as cassava and acacia, this place is also known as the area with the largest palm growing area in Con Cuong district.

Mr. Lo Van Thang - Head of Khe Ran village said: The whole village currently has 160 households, most of whom grow palm trees with a total area of ​​150 hectares. Palm trees are still a source of income, so many households in the village maintain, protect and exploit them, contributing to improving daily life.

Ba Hau - Chu Hanh