Farmers in Quynh Luu receive support in the form of incense stick making machines.

In Hamlet 1, Tien Thanh, Quynh Thang commune (Quynh Luu district), there are 96 households, 100% of which cultivate vetiver grass. Every year, the people here produce tens of tons of vetiver grass roots, which are sold to provinces throughout the country.

The incense stick making machine costs 15 million VND. Photo: Viet Hung

In 2017, Quynh Thang commune was recognized by the People's Committee of Quynh Luu district as a village specializing in processing raw materials and producing incense sticks in Tien Thanh hamlet, village 1.

Since the cultivation of agarwood trees began, local people have mainly grown and sold the raw product after harvesting, without processing, resulting in low value. Therefore, people have not focused on leveraging the advantages of local raw materials to produce finished incense products.

To develop the craft village and especially to enhance the value of its products, Quynh Thang commune received support from the District People's Committee in the form of 5 incense stick production machines, each worth 15 million VND; the total support value is 75 million VND. Each incense stick making machine has a capacity of 200 sticks per minute, equivalent to 80 kg of finished product per day.

Along with the five machines provided, the villagers in Hamlet 1, Tien Thanh now have nine machines for producing incense sticks. The introduction of these machines contributes to increasing the value of the product from cultivation to processing and consumption.

Starting in November, people in Quynh Thang commune (Quynh Luu district) begin harvesting the roots of the fragrant grass plant. Photo: Viet Hung

Quynh Thang commune has the largest area of ​​vetiver grass cultivation in the district, with over 200 hectares. Currently, it is harvest season, and every day the people sell 5-7 tons of vetiver grass roots to the market, earning hundreds of millions of dong.