(Baonghean.vn) - These days, people in many districts in Western Nghe An have begun to go into the forest to pick sour ke leaves to sell to traders. No one understands the real effects of the leaves of this woody plant, but because of the demand, people flock to the forest to pick them to earn money.
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| On Chau Thon - Tan Xuan route, it is not difficult to see the image of sour ke leaves drying all over the road. |
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| The sour ke tree is also known as giang tree by local people, a woody plant that grows abundantly in the forest canopy. Autumn is the time when people pick leaves to sell to traders. |
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| In Quang Phong commune, every day many people go into the forest to pick sour ke leaves to import. In the photo is a group of women from Pao 2 village who have just picked the leaves. They sit on the roadside waiting for buyers to come and buy them. |
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| Locals said that it takes them 2-3 hours to pick a bag of sour ke leaves weighing about 15kg. Each person can only pick 2 bags per day. |
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| Ms. Lo Thi Tuan, in Pao 2 village, said that fresh sour ke leaves are purchased by traders at 1,500 VND/kg. With about 30kg of sour ke picked, a person only earns 45,000 VND. |
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| Right in the villages, many households also buy sour ke leaves and then sell them to traders. |
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| People dry fresh sour ke leaves right on the road and often sweep them to dry quickly. |
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| Fresh sour ke leaves are thin, fibrous, and slightly rough. |
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| A house in Pao 1 village has become a 'center' for purchasing and gathering sour ke leaves. Dried sour ke leaves are sold for 5,000 VND/kg. |
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| Children find joy in the space filled with sour leaves. |
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| Currently, no one knows the true uses of this plant. However, according to the experience of some indigenous people, this is a medicinal herb that can be boiled and drunk to 'cool' the body, good for the digestive system. |
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| According to local people, the main buyers of sour leaves are from Quy Hop district. They buy dried leaves and then sell them to China. |
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| A resident collects sour ke leaves after a day of drying in the middle of the road. |
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| The phenomenon of private traders buying sour ke leaves has been going on for several years now. And in fact, according to many people, the harvesting is only done when the leaves are old, so it does not affect the growth of this small tree much. |
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| Sour ke leaves drying on Tang bridge. |
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| What is most noteworthy is that drying leaves in the middle of the road causes more or less inconvenience to people and vehicles participating in traffic. |
N.Lan - D. Tuan
