Nghe An: Precious herbs from the forest to the garden bring 'huge' profits

(Baonghean.vn) - Currently, in Hamlet 4, Quynh Van Commune, Quynh Luu (Nghe An), there are about 60 households growing Solanum procumbens with an area of ​​over 1 hectare, earning a profit of over 400 million VND. The district is completing documents and procedures to ask the People's Committee of Nghe An province to recognize the craft village of growing medicinal plants.

Solanum procumbens in Quynh Van - Quynh Luu

Solanum procumbens was planted on a large scale in Hamlet 4, Quynh Van Commune, Quynh Luu District in early 2015. Initially, only a few households planted this medicinal plant, but after just over a year, 60 households in the hamlet planted it, with a total area of ​​over 1 hectare. Solanum procumbens, locally known as the Bu Lu tree, is a vine with sharp thorns on its leaves and branches. The fruit is as small as the tip of a little finger and has a beautiful bright red color when ripe.

This is a wild plant, effective in treating liver diseases, detoxifying the body, only used to drink water, is a medicinal material to produce medicines, not used for food. Originating from the fact that in the hamlet there are some households that collect medicinal plants including Solanum procumbens, households in the hamlet have gone to all the forests and low hills to cut Solanum procumbens to sell.

After a while, the Solanum procumbens in the forest gradually decreased due to overharvesting. People in hamlet 4, Quynh Van commune and some households in Quynh Xuan ward, Hoang Mai town came up with a way to dig up the plants to plant.

People take care of Solanum procumbens.

If planted with old roots, the first harvest will take place after 6-7 months. If planted with seedlings, the harvest will take place after only 4 months. The advantage of this type of tree is that it is easy to grow, suitable for many types of soil, not affected by pests and diseases, and can be harvested for 3-4 years after planting once.

Mr. Dau Duc Truong said: “In 2015, I hired someone to dig up the roots for 5 million VND, and planted 1 sao of Solanum procumbens, the total cost was 6 million VND, and after 6 months, I harvested 20 million VND. At the end of 2015, I used the fruit of the first crop to grow seedlings, expanding the area to more than 3 sao. Harvesting from the second lunar month until now, I have nearly 8.5 quintals of dried Solanum procumbens, the import price is 60,000 VND/kg, plus the cost of the seedlings I sold to neighbors, it is also over 60 million VND”.

The stems are cut short, dried and sold for 60,000 VND/kg.

To save weeding, many households have planted trees covered with plastic. The trees require almost no care, the older the trees are, the higher the quality of medicinal materials, the higher the yield.

In 2015, the average price of Solanum procumbens was 80,000 VND/kg, now the price has dropped to 50-60,000 VND/kg, but the output of the next crop is higher than the previous crop, so the income from this plant is very high. According to the growers' calculations, each hectare can produce dry output of 10-12 tons/year, earning a net profit of more than 400 million VND/ha.

Ms. Ho Thi Toan, a resident of Hamlet 4, Quynh Van Commune, said: “Growing this type of Solanum procumbens is very easy, there is no loss at all, because nothing can eat it. The harvest season is long, after the first crop, there is a harvest every 4 months, 2 to 3 harvests per year. When harvested, cut it short, dry it in the sun for about 3 days, when the stem turns yellow, then pack it in bags. It can be preserved for a very long time, not depending on the production season, so there is no fear of being forced down in price. Growing this is 4.5 times more expensive than vegetables because the cost is low, but the price is high.”

According to scientists, Solanum procumbens has many uses: treating hepatitis B, curing hepatitis, cirrhosis, regenerating liver cells, and detoxifying alcohol. Enhances the liver's detoxification function, protects liver cells, and limits liver cell damage caused by alcohol and toxic chemicals.

People grow seedlings from mother plants.

Mr. Le Van Ba, Chairman of Quynh Van Commune People's Committee said: "The locality is carrying out procedures to ask Nghe An Provincial People's Committee to recognize the craft village of growing medicinal plants. If recognized, this will be a motivation for farmers to continue expanding the area of ​​these crops."

The juice of the Solanum procumbens plant is used to treat liver diseases.

Nguyen Van